Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Germany out to tie up group
Germany v Norway 7.45pm
GERMANY could secure top spot in Group C and qualify for Russia with two games to spare tonight if they extend their 100% record to eight matches and second-placed Northern Ireland drop points against the Czechs.
Manager Joachim Low – who saw his team defeat the Czech Republic in Prague on Friday with a late Mat Hummels winner – welcomes back Sami Khedira after the Juventus midfielder recovered from a knee injury.
“I plan to make two or three changes. Yesterday only the players who had not played in Prague from the beginning trained, the others recovered,” he added.
“But I’m not betraying too much when I say that Marc-andre ter Stegen will be in goal and I have a plan for Julian Draxler, who has made a good impression in training.”
Norway secured only their second victory of the qualifying campaign against Azerbaijan on Friday to end a run of four matches without a win.
Bournemouth striker Josh King opened the scoring with a penalty in the 2-0 win and said the three points had given them a much-needed boost as they head to Stuttgart.
“The victory gave us confidence but it will be a lot tougher battle on Monday,” he said.
“I love playing against big teams and the best in the world. It inspires me.”
In tonight’s other Group C game, Azerbaijan host bottom of the table side San Marino at the National Stadium in Baku.