Fifa World Cup 2018 Qualifying Group C: Germany v Northern Ireland (Tuesday, HBI Stadium, 7.45pm, Sky Sports 1)
NORTHERN Ireland have nothing to lose and “everything to gain” said manager Michael O’Neill on the eve of Tuesday’s David and Goliath showdown with World Cup holders Germany.
The North, who needed three goals in the last 10 minutes to see off 10-man San Marino on Saturday night, go into the game in Hannover as rank underdogs. Despite that, O’Neill insists that he and his players are relishing the chance to take on Joachim Low’s in-form side.
“We’re playing the world champions at a fantastic stadium and I’d imagine there’d be a fantastic crowd here, so what’s not to relish?” said the Northern Ireland manager.
“The expectation doesn’t lie with us, it lies with them because they’re the world champions. We have everything to gain - whether I enjoy it through the 90 minutes or not will be another experience and I’ll tell you that afterwards.
"But certainly, it’s a game we look forward to. This is a fantastic opportunity for me, as a coach, and for all the players and you can see that they’re very much looking forward to it.”
Meanwhile, after listening to supercool Germany manager Low you might wonder why Northern Ireland bothered to turn up at all. Low is supremely confident but then, as a World Cup-winning manager, he’s entitled to be.
“Yes, we’ll be there [at the 2018 World Cup] in two years’ time,” he said at Monday’s press conference at the HDI Arena, home of Hannover 96.
After comprehensive wins in their first two games - away to Norway and at home against the Czech Republic - Low’s side are expected to swat the North away. He hasn’t booked the players’ hotel yet, but he is planning a trip to Russia.
“Let’s just say that with six points already under our belts we’re self confident enough and fairly certain to say ‘yes, we’ll be there in two years’ time’," Low said.
“First of all, I would like to finish this qualification campaign with full concentration. After the Confederations Cup next year, Oliver Bierhoff and I will fly over to Russia for some initial checks to sort things out, but that’s all.”
A win on Tuesday and Low will have equalled the record of 94 wins set by Sepp Herberger and managed in more games than Helmut Schon - the coach of the 1974 World Cup-winning side.
“People keep reminding me of these statistics, but I personally don’t pay that much attention to them,” he said.
Low is picking from a fully-fit squad after Jerome Boateng, Jonas Hector and Julian Draxler were all passed fit and he is expected to start with the same side that beat an over ambitious Czech Republic 3-0 thanks to two goals from Thomas Muller and a third from peerless midfield playmaker Tony Kroos.
Meanwhile, after dominating possession against San Marino, O’Neill will ring the changes as he prepares for his team to live off scraps on Tuesday. Leeds United winger Stuart Dallas sat out training on Monday and veteran Aaron Hughes could come in at right-back with Paddy McNair brought in to cover centre-back pairing Gareth McAuley and Jonny Evans.
Corry Evans’ energy could help to subdue Kroos while, up front, Josh Magennis was well contained by the San Marino defenders and, though Kyle Lafferty came on and scored twice in a 20-minute cameo, his lack of action for his club means he won’t start on Tuesday.
