World Champion Loew has to fight for his reputation

It might be one of the most difficult moments in his career: Joachim Loew is one of only four World Cup winning coaches in German football history and a football legend - but currently the 55-year-old in a rather uncomfortable situation. One year after his greatest victory, 1-0 in the 2014 final against Argentina, the German head coach is fighting with his team to win back his reputation. Like any ordinary coach, Loew needs two victories against Poland (this Friday in Frankfurt/32nd in the FIFA World Ranking) and Scotland (on Monday in Glasgow/33rd) to reverse a none too smooth post World Cup year.

According to an opinion poll conducted by the "YouGov" research institute, only 13 percent of Germans consider their World Cup champion capable of winning the 2016 European Championship in France - which Loew has named as being a major goal. "We want to shape an era," said Loew after the Germans had won the world's most important tournament in Brazil. Now Germany's (and Loew's) must-do job list includes topping their qualifying Group D where they are currently lying second behind (13 points) but ahead of Scotland in third (11 points). Until now the route to EURO 2016 France was regarded as being tough but far from constituting a problem.

Now - after six of ten group games - it is problematical. In addition, Germany needs not only two victories but have to prove that the world champion can return to world beating form. Loew obviously is convinced he can get his squad back on track with a series of wake-up-calls in the form of clear statements as does Oliver Bierhoff, the general manager. It all shows that the German team and its coach are approaching an important turning point.

Three defeats, two draws and only five victories in the year - one that is generally regarded as a year of recuperation for body and soul - after the 2014 World Cup, Loew has to prove his team can press the right button and be successful again. "We can't be satisfied with last year," said Bierhoff who wants to "see sad faces among Poland's players".

"After a year that was not world champion like, we are now under pressure. We are facing two games of truth," said Loew. The duel against Poland is regarded by the coach as being a test of his team's character. "There is a big feel-good factor in the Polish team and the enthusiasm is remarkable. We need to dominate the game and at the same time have to keep a close eye on Poland's strikers and their ability to counterattack," emphasized Loew. "It's a game - like the one against Scotland - where we will have to give our everything."

Loew is demanding self-confidence from his team and that it finds creative solutions when going forward. "This is an important part on our journey to France in 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Russia," said Loew who is well aware that he still has to fill some key-positions with new players. Germany is still operating without a so called central striker after Miroslav Klose (Lazio Rome) retired. His successors like Mario Goetze and Thomas Mueller (both Bayern Munich) are both strikers that move in from the flanks. Daniel Ginczek (VfB Stuttgart) could be the man for that position in the future, but was left out by Loew when selecting his team. In addition both outside back positions are still vacant. Sebastian Rudy (TSG Hoffenheim) and Jonas Hector (1. FC Cologne) still have to prove themselves on the international stage. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United) has to show he is still a force to be reckoned with after the midfielder left Bayern Munich after 17 years when operating next to Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) in the central defensive midfield position.

Few people expect the Germans to miss out on qualifying for the tournament in France, the team hotel in Evian, France is already booked as is the training camp in Ascona (Switzerland). Loew and his team now have to kill off any last doubts and regain the trust of their fans that have been disappointed lately. "It is our obligation to deliver," says Loew.

Loew and his team will have to start their re-set project without Borussia Dortmund striker Marco Reus who has broken a toe which has forced him to pull out of the two games against Poland and Scotland. Midfielder Mesut Oezil (Arsenal), who missed some training sessions due to a knee injury, is a slight doubt but is expected to be fit in time. Emre Can (Liverpool) is a future candidate for the right and left back positions but most possibly will not find himself in the starting eleven against Poland.

"The time for making excuses is over," Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng says. And Thomas Mueller says: "It's crunch time. We have a score to settle against Poland - so everyone should know what we have to do." Mueller was alluring to the shock for Loew and his team when they were beaten 2-0 in the away game in Warsaw against Poland and the performance was far from what fans expect from a world champion. Endi