LOW WANTS TO PUT GERMANY BACK ON HIGH

GERMANY boss Joachim Low hopes his dominant side can restore some national pride after declaring Bundesliga clubs’ recent results in Europe “alarming”.

As reigning World Cup and Confederations Cup holders, there is little concern surrounding Low’s side heading into tonight’s penultimate qualifier in Belfast, when anything but a home win will ensure Die Mannschaft are in Russia to defend their title.

Yet Low is worried by the state of Germany’s domestic game after Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin, Hoffenheim and Cologne were all beaten across the Champions League or Europa League last week.

Bayern’s victory over Anderlecht is the only win a German side has managed in a continental group game this term.

“The weak performances of German clubs in Europe is hopefully just a momentary blip but it is alarming,” Low said. “Is it a general trend? I would say it’s too early. But for a while now we’ve been thinking about how to improve things in the Bundesliga and it’s wrong to praise the Bundesliga to high heaven or say only the Bundesliga produces the best talent.”

He added: “This is our task to provide people back home with enjoyment of what German football should be about.”

His side deployed at Windsor Park is likely to feature a strong Bayern presence and manager Carlo Ancelotti’s exit has been a big storyline as they have met up for international duty.

“While the last few days haven’t been easy, we’re now in a different environment,” Bayern defender Mats Hummels argued.

“Neither mentally of physically is there any impairment as far as the Bayern players are concerned.

“The beauty of it is that as Bayern players we can tell our team-mates what the inside story at Bayern Munich really is, as opposed to what you read in the papers. I’m definitely not running away from the situation, it’s part of life as a professional. I deal with it quite happily.”

Though they have won all eight of their World Cup qualifiers, Germany have still not sewn up top spot because of Northern Ireland’s brilliant form.

And Low has been impressed with what he has seen from counterpart Michael O’neill.

“He’s earned great merit for Northern Ireland,” Low said. “Northern Ireland were the positive surprise at the Euros, even past the Euros.

“They have kept clean sheets in seven qualifiers, you only do that when you know what you’re doing. Few teams in the world can switch so efficiently between man and space marking, it’s really due to his coaching qualities.”