Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur)

Germany expect tough opener against Australia

- Agencies sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com

World champions Germany will pit an inexperien­ced line-up against Australia in their Confederat­ions Cup opener on Monday with striker Timo Werner anticipati­ng a robust challenge from the Socceroos.

With an average age of just 24 years, four months, and a combined total of 179 internatio­nal appearance­s, Germany have the most youthful squad of the eight Confed Cup teams.

Only three of the squad -- Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi, Matthias Ginter and Julian Draxler -- lifted the World Cup in Brazil three years ago, but none of the trio played in the Rio de Janeiro final.

With the likes of Thomas Mueller, Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng all left at home, Joshua Kimmich is the only Bayern Munich star in the Germany squad. On the back of his breakthrou­gh season with RB Leipzig, striker Timo Werner, 21, expects a fiery start in Sochi for the untested, green Germans.

“We don’t all know how fit we are after a long and hard season,” admitted Werner. “Now comes an unpleasant game in which the Australian­s will try, with their physiques and toughness, to take us on. But we have a duty to win the three points. We need to get a quick goal and then exert some dominance.”

A year out from the World Cup in Russia, there has never been a better time for the Socceroos to poach a first win over Germany at a major competitio­n at the fourth attempt. The world champions have made no secret of the fact their goal is not to win the Confederat­ions Cup, but to blood their next generation of stars.

“The first priority is to develop the team, the second to win here,” said team manager Oliver Bierhoff bluntly.

With the likes of key midfielder­s Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos rested, the pressure falls on 23-year-old captain Draxler. With 30 caps, the Paris St-Germain star has the most experience and is expected to lead by example in the attacking midfield role. Worldclass goalkeeper Neuer is recovering from foot surgery, so Bayer Leverkusen’s shot-stopper Bernd Leno is tasked with keeping Australia’s attack at bay.

Australia have held their heads high against Germany in their last two meetings in friendlies. The Socceroos shocked the below-strength Germans 2-1 in Moenchengl­adbach in 2011. Then two years ago, the 2015 Asian Cup champions drew 2-2 against Germany in Kaiserslau­tern.

However, the Socceroos have arrived in Russia on the back of a narrow World Cup qualifying win over Saudi Arabia and a hammering by Brazil.

 ?? AP ?? Russia's Fedor Smolov celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against New Zealand in the Confederat­ions Cup in Russia on Saturday.
AP Russia's Fedor Smolov celebrates after scoring his side's second goal against New Zealand in the Confederat­ions Cup in Russia on Saturday.
 ?? AFP ?? Germany players train in Sochi on Saturday.
AFP Germany players train in Sochi on Saturday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India