Germans vow to rediscover scoring touch

Poland 2 Germany 0

Poland not only created their own piece of history by snaffling victory at a throbbing Narodowy Stadium but also adjusted the complexion of European Championship qualification Group D many thought the world champions would run away it.

That prospect may still unravel, yet their deficiencies evident in Warsaw at both ends of the pitch on Saturday definitely give credence to the notion that there is work ahead for Joachim Löw to recreate the brilliance of his side so rampant in Brazil during the summer.

A combination of wasteful finishing and misjudgements in defence cost the Germans badly in their second game of the campaign.

Their captain, Manuel Neuer, suffered a moment a madness six minutes after the restart by rushing from his line to try collect a Lukasz Piszczek cross. Ajax striker Arkadiusz Milik read the delivery perfectly to arrive first and head home, with Neuer punching at thin air. “It was my fault and I take responsibility,” confessed the goalkeeper later.

With two minutes left, the cleverness of Poland captain Robert Lewandowski was apparent when he barged past Erik Durm on the right and teed up substitute Sebastian Mila to sweep the second goal past Neuer to clinch victory.

In between the pair of strikes, and either side of the break, Germany had mustered plenty of chances to see off their neighbours and extend their unbeaten run against them to 19 matches over 83 years.

Debutant Karim Bellarabi should have marked the occasion with a hat-trick, such were the number of clear-cut openings he passed up, while substitute Lukas Podolski became the first German player on the night to beat inspired Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny only to be denied an equaliser by the crossbar.

As the Poles rejoiced at their finest moment in football, the German squad were aghast at allowing a tie they dominated elude them.

The message was loud and clear, however, that the same fate won’t befall them when Martin O’Neill’s side square up in Gelsenkirchen tomorrow night.

In two qualifiers along their golden path to the World Cup trophy, Germany plundered nine goals past Ireland. On this occasion, though, the Irish land in Germany today joint-top of the group, with three points more than their opponents.

“If we attack like we did against Poland by creating as many chances, I know we will beat Ireland,” insisted German full-back Erik Durm.

“We had 15 chances in the second half on Saturday but just couldn’t finish any of them whereas Poland scored from the two they created. I’m sure Ireland will go on the defensive against us and drop many players deep behind the ball. But it’s to us now to break them down.”

Speaking yesterday as the Germans arrived back at their Dusseldorf base, manager Löw put his finger on the area most in need of attention for tomorrow night.

“Our game execution against Poland was good, our finishing wasn’t,” was the assessment from a typically blunt Löw.

“We didn’t score from 28 attempts on goal but I’m sure we will balance again against Ireland. Their tactics will be similar to Poland’s, as we know well from games against them in recent years.

“Ireland are a team that defends and plays mainly on the counterattack. However, we will look to exploit them.”

A couple of changes are expected in the German side tomorrow. Christoph Kramer is nursing a hip complaint, yet may make way regardless to provide an alternative partner for playmaker Toni Kroos. Julian Draxler, impressive when introduced for the last 20 minutes on Saturday, is set for a start the venue he plays his club football, Schalke 04’s Veltins Arena.

POLAND: Szczesny; Piszczek, Szukala, Glik, Wawrzyniak (Jedrzejczyk 84); Krychowiak, Jodlowiec, Rybus; Grosicki (Sobata 71), Lewandowski, Milik (Mila 78).

GERMANY: Neuer; Rüdiger (Kruse 84), Boateng, Hummels, Durm; Kramer (Draxler 72), Kroos; Bellarabi, Götze, Schürrle (Podolski 78); Müller.

Referee: P Proença (POR).