Euro 2020 qualifiers: Joachim Low and Joshua Kimmich demand reaction from Germany against Northern Ireland
Germany lost their most recent Group C qualifier 4-2 to the Netherlands in Hamburg as the Dutch won on German soil for the first time since 2002
September 9, 2019
Germany manager Joachim Low and full-back Joshua Kimmich have demanded a reaction from the team against Northern Ireland on Monday in the 2020 European Championship qualifiers.
Germany lost their most recent Group C qualifier 4-2 to the Netherlands in Hamburg as the Dutch won on German soil for the first time since 2002. It was Germany's first defeat in four games and next take on group-toppers Northern Ireland at Windsor Park.
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"We need to approach the game in such a way that we leave the pitch as winners," Low said. "I am sure that we will see a reaction on Monday. Northern Ireland are not an easy opponent, but our task is to take home all three points tomorrow. The team know that."
Bayern Munich full-back Kimmich echoed his manager's sentiments and urged his teammates to take Northern Ireland seriously.
"We need to show another side to our game against Northern Ireland compared to the one we presented against the Netherlands, and deliver a different performance on the pitch," he said.
"We need to react, and that's something that we will do. Anyone who thinks tomorrow will be a walk in the park is completely off the mark."
Germany will have to do without Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan and Borussia Dortmund full-back Nico Schulz.
Gundogan, 28, left the team German hotel in Belfast on Sunday to return to Manchester and misses the top-of-the-table clash. Schulz, meanwhile, has been ruled out of the game in Belfast because of a foot injury after playing in Friday's defeat.
With Gundogan out of the match, rising Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz, 20, is set to take his place.
"It was planned that Ilkay would play. Kai is a candidate in the starting eleven," said Low.
Havertz also has the backing of Kimmich, who said: "Kai has definitely proven the skill that he has. He can help us out. The same goes for every other player in our squad."
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer will captain Germany behind a four-man defence, a change from the three centre backs line-up which failed to contain the Dutch.
"Northern Ireland play with one central striker, which means for us that we only need two central defenders instead of three," Low said.
It means youngsters Matthias Ginter and Niklas Suele are set to partner up at centre-back with Jonathan Tah, who scored an own goal on Friday, dropping out.
Published: September 9, 2019 08:02 AM
