News Analysis: Against Georgia, witches' brew needed to make Loew's squad run?

To face a game in Georgia with their heads full of doubts is nothing you connect with football's World Cup winning team.

German coach Joachim Loew might officially sound optimistic regarding the match against the team ranked 126th in the FIFA World Ranking. However after a disappointing EURO 2016 qualifying campaign up to now, the Group D game in Tiflis this Sunday evening will be an important test and a challenge nobody expected.

"There is no reason to panic. The team knows it can await and what is needed to win three points. We are self-confident but won't underestimate Georgia," said Loew after the disappointing 2-2 draw against Asian Cup winner Australia last Wednesday in a warm-up in Kaiserslautern.

Looking at Germany's latest results and poor campaign (0-2 v Poland/1-1 draw v Ireland) there is not much reason to be overwhelmingly optimistic. After winning the 2014 World Cup last summer, Germany has not yet been able to return form that won them the World Cup due to several reasons.

Their European Championship qualifier against Georgia has a final feel about it. The three points are vital as Poland top the Group on 10 points ahead second-placed Ireland (7/better goal difference) Germany in third (7). To qualify Germany needs to finish in second.

The German media, like the Berlin-based daily Die Welt, are calling upon Loew to "get his World Cup winners out of the comfort-zone" and the Munich-based weekly "Focus" is demanding: "Make them run" and talks of a "sloppy squad".

The "Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung" newspaper, based in Essen, started appealed to its readers to find a special "witches' brew" to make the German team stop their post World Cup slump. The mass-circulation "Bild" requested a "goal orgy".

Germany is still far from questioning the team's potential and Loew's ability as last year's World Cup success sent confidence in them sky high. After the unsuccessful attempt to deploy a back-row of three and generate greater urgency going forward with a five-man midfield, impatience among the nation's football fans is growing like weeds, slowly, but you can't get rid of it completely.

Against Georgia, Loew is expected to return to safer tactical system and a four-man defense like the one he won the 2014 World Cup with. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, striker Thomas Mueller, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defender Jerome Boateng (all Bayern Munich), midfielder Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) and defender Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) are expected to return to the first eleven, meaning Germany will start in full shining amour after Loew gave several of his key-figures a rest against Australia.

"We know we can't afford any more mistakes," said Oliver Bierhoff the General Manager. Meaning: the 2014 World Cup winner Germany is feeling the heat of a "hot battle" - quote striker Lukas Podolski.

For decades now Germany has tended to panic when the national team goes through a period of poor results even when it only happens in warm ups. Looking however at a team that was overtaxed with a new tactical system (three-man defense) and the month-long sticky patch, many are questioning Loew's optimism.

In Germany's 900th international (552 wins, 183 draws 194 defeats), which will be played in the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, "we will see a highly focused team," said Manuel Neuer. "We know what we have to do to do a good job."

Fans and media request new faces in the team but Loew sees itself in a tricky situation as, at least for now, he has to operate without new players. Loew wants his talented youngsters to go through the experience of a major tournament, namely the U-21 European Championships in June. Germany is among the favorites and Loew is convinced of the importance of such an experience they won 2009 title with like Neuer, Mesut Oezil (Arsenal), Boateng, Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Hummels, Sami Khedira (Real Madrid).

In Tiflis, Loew has to rely on a squad of only 21 as defender Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich) and Karim Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen) have forced to stay home due to muscle problems (Badstuber) and a bad cold (Bellarabi).

Loew says he has not yet decided on the tactical approach he intends employing in the game , either a three or a four man defense. The national coach wants to keep his cards close to his chest up until shortly before kick-off. Either - or: Loew will have to find answers to his problems as his future plans of winning in France in 2016 and two years later at the World Cup in Russia will sound overly ambitious.

Germany's probable line up:

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) - Benedikt Hoewedes FC Schalke 04), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Mats Hummels Borussia Dortmund), Jonas Hector (1. FC Cologne) - Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) - Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Oezil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund) - Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich). Endi