Loew postpones experiments due to belly grumbling

The game in Dublin was meant to clinch Germany's place Euro 2016 in France. However after a Shane Long (Southampton) strike gave Ireland their first ever victory (1-0) over Germany in a competitive game, head coach Joachim Loew's team still needs one point in their last qualifying game against Georgia in Leipzig this Sunday to book their ticket to the European Championship finals.

Originally, Loew wanted to try out a few players in the final group game but now he has to postpone his plans for the time being.

Having to wrap up qualification in their last game means the times of comfort will be over for the German team and candidates will be trying to grab a last-minute place in Loew's squad. The coach is sure now to up the pressure on many in his squad, not only for the ones still trying to find their form in time for the tournament in France.

"We will keep the door open for several players until the preparations for France start," said Loew. The defeat in Ireland was a step back after the Germans seemed to have found their way back to solid performances after a more or less one-year-long post-World-Cup depression. "I have seen that the team knows what is needed when it comes to tight games," said the German coach before his team got in trouble in Dublin.

Now the 55-year-old, who today was in charge of the national team for the 125th time, said: "We are disappointed, but the team has to take to heart the fact, it is essential to score goals to survive. A good fighting spirit is not enough." Loew might rethink his strategy to leave out a central striker such as Mario Gomez (Besiktas Istanbul).

After the game in Ireland, Loew is more than ever aware that there is work still to be done. He wants to get his team to improve in all positions as he and many of his players are quite clear as to their goals for Euro 2016 and the World Cup two years later in Russia. The head coach is looking to win both tournaments.

"It is a disappointing result tonight, but now we know what is to be done on Sunday," said goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

For some of his players, the road to France will be tough as players like Marco Reus, Matthias Ginter (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (VfL Wolfsburg), Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray Istanbul), Emre Can (Liverpool), Karim Bellarabi, Christoph Kramer (Bayer Leverkusen) and Kevin Volland and Sebastian Rudy (TSG Hoffenheim) plus Sami Khedira (Juventus) all have to improve to secure their places in the German team. Hot on their heels are players like Gomez, Max Kruse, Julian Draxler (VfL Wolfsburg) and Shkodran Mustafi (FC Valencia), Antonio Ruediger (AS Rome) and Schalke 04 youngster Leroy Sane.

In addition, goalkeepers like Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96) and Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona) are battling for the two places behind Germany's No. 1 Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich). Schuerrle and Podolski above all have to improve if they are to keep their rivals at bay.

The fight for the right back position will be intense after Can (mainly in midfield in his club) was not overly convincing when playing for the national team in the defense. 21-year-old Ginter lacks international experience despite his recent good games for Dortmund. Jonas Hector (1. FC Cologne) has a good chance to keep his left back position if he continues in the same impressive vein when going forward.

"Some of them might still be young and have not too much experience, but I am convinced they have the quality we need. Next year, I am sure, we will be able to solve our problems," said Loew. "We all know what the job is this Sunday." Fore sure the Germans will need more ideas in midfield and solutions up front.

Loew from now on will be concentrating on achieving his ambition of shaping the next era in international football. "We are the 2014 world champion but we have to keep our eyes wide open, to be aware of every development in football," said Loew.

To be up to date, the Germans will send out their scouts in order not to miss any new moves in international football. The head coach is always expressing his high expectations and ambitions especially in respect of his players. And he often talks about robustness and mental stability.

Germany is nevertheless still topping the group but Loew was not satisfied with his team's performance against the "boys in green". Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United) had to pull out shortly before the game due to a muscle injury and Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich) was injured during the game. Both are unlikely to play against Georgia game on Sunday.

After two satisfying games against Poland (3-1) and Scotland (3-2) the Germans had problems keeping a clear game structure. It enabled the battling Irish team to keep the Germans away from their goal. Goal-scoring possibilities were rare for the Germans who could not gain control in midfield and had to continually stay concentrated to keep the Irish at bay.

It was up until the minute when Shane Long scored the only goal of the game. Loew then altered the tactics by only having three man in defense instead of four. But it made no difference as the Irish held on for an historical win.

In the background Loew is still planning for France. Other than in advance of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, Loew has decided not to employ a regeneration training camp before the main training-camp leading up to the tournament. h Instead the German head coach will follow his successful 2014 World Cup strategy to have only one training-camp and hand out individual training plans to his players up until the squad gets together after May 21 when the German Cup final will be played.

When the German team will be moving into their 2016 base in Evian will be decided after the draw for the finals is made on Dec. 12, 2015. Endi