One of the best group of attackers I worked with: Germany coach

MARGAO: ‘There no pressure on us,” says Germany coach Christian Wuck when quizzed about the burden of expectations the European giants carry into the World Cup. Skipper and midfielder Erik Majetschak and goalkeeper Luca Plogmann give a nod of approval as their coach makes the statement on the eve of their opening Group C match against Costa Rica.

Germany have never won the U-17 World Cup, with their best finish coming at way back in 1985 when they finished runners-up. But this German team is strongest they have ever put at this level and in coach Wuck’s words: “One of the best group of attacking players I have ever worked with.”

Germany scored 36 goals – qualifying and finals included – during the Under-17 European Championship where they lost in the shootout to eventual champions Spain in the semifinals.

The likes of forward JannFiete Arp, creative midfielder Elias Abouchabaka, midfielder John Yeboah among others have the capabilities to destroy any of the attacks, as they showed in their continental championship, and their opponents would be chalking out their plans to negate there threat.

So what are Costa Rica’s plans to keep them at bay?

“We know all about Germany’s attacking prowess. But we have our plans ready,” said their coach Breansse Camacho Viquez.

“The first objective is the win games and get through the group stages. Also, we need a bit if luck as well. I think we are a very strong team but we know from the European Championship that to reach the first place we need little bit of luck. In Europe we didn’t have luck in the game against Spain. We hope we will be in India till the last day,” said Wuck.