Germany 2-1 Scotland
WORLD CHAMPIONS GERMANY got their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign off to a shaky start with a nervy 2-1 win over Scotland in Dortmund.
Germany lost 4-2 against Argentina in a friendly on Wednesday but a goal in each half from Bayern Munich attacker Thomas Mueller ensured they won their first competitive fixture since the World Cup.
Scotland delivered a spirited performance though and they were rewarded for a positive second-half approach when winger Ikechi Anya raced clear to equalise on 66 minutes.
https://vine.co/v/OzW59LgDXJI
But the visitors failed to clear a corner four minutes later and Mueller capitalised to thump home his 24th international goal.
Mueller’s winner denied Gordon Strachan’s side what would have been a precious point in a group that also includes the Republic of Ireland, Poland, Georgia and Gibraltar.
“At 1-1, I genuinely believe we can win the game at that point,” Strachan said.
“I’ve seen players at that point playing with no fear of the game.
The longer the game we went on, the more of a threat we got. We really should be proud. All we have to do is work on the first 20 minutes. Get that sorted out and we’ll be fine. We’ll be good.”
In midfield, Germany were missing new captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira and Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, while at the back Jerome Boateng returned in defence.
With Philipp Lahm having retired after the World Cup, Hoffenheim’s Sebastian Rudy surprisingly earned his third cap at right-back.
Scotland were captained by Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher and the visitors also included in-form Everton striker Steven Naismith as they sought to beat Germany in a competitive fixture for the first time.
There looked little danger of that in the opening stages.
On eight minutes a Toni Kroos cross found Mueller unmarked but the 25-year-old badly miscued his header from eight yards out.
The Scots then created a decent opening when Ikechi Anya turned Boateng and Barry Bannan saw his shot deflected wide and Celtic’s Charlie Mulgrew soon cracked a volley against the woodwork -albeit from an offside position.
German left-back Erik Durm tested Scotland keeper David Marshall from distance and eighteen minutes in, the home team made the breakthrough.
Rudy lofted a ball into the box and it was third time lucky for Mueller in the air as he climbed above Russell Martin to cleverly steer a header over Marshall.
Reus then forced another save from Marshall as Germany dominated possession in a busy opening period for the Cardiff City keeper.
Only 1-0 down the break and playing into the vocal visiting fans end in the second half, Scotland still had plenty of hope.
Watch Christoph Kramer and James Morrison play Rock Paper Scissor while Marco Reus receives treatment:
https://vine.co/v/OzWHHxzdg6v
And there was a real warning for Germany three minutes after the restart when Naismith skipped past two players inside the box only to see his shot shave the post.
Schuerlle blazed off target at the other end but approaching the hour Naismith failed to make the most of another good chance for the visitors. Anya delivered a good cross from the left but Naismith blasted well wide on his left foot.
Substitute Steven Fletcher then had a header blocked by Rudy but soon afterwards the visiting fans went wild as Anya equalised.
World Cup final goalscorer Mario Goetze lost possession in the Scots’ half and with the German defence pushed up, a simple pass from Fletcher sent the Watford player bearing down on goal. Anya kept his cool and slotted beyond Neuer.
The Scots’ joy was shortlived, however. Substitute James McArthur was unable to get the ball clear from a corner and Mueller slammed home from close-ranger.
Scotland were unable to fashion a second equaliser and the night ended on a miserable note when Mulgrew was sent off for dissent in stoppage time.
Mueller was then denied a hat-trick when he hit the post.
Elsewhere in Group D, Poland defeated Gibraltar 7-0. Ireland play Gibraltar next in Dublin next on 11 October before meeting Germany away on 14 October.
A big advantage leinster have is that they have had competive games against very good opposition and still come into the game fresh.
Hopefully will conners chop tackles their ball carriers out of the game and the ref keeps their defencive line on side. Presure is firmly on the English too. Lose this and their year is over as a club where as leinster have the league title in the cabinet. So the season won’t end up a zero even if they are beat.
@Chris Mc: ah come on, having the pro 14 in the bag means zero to Leinster it’s a rubbish competition consisting of second and third string teams. It’s win or nothing for Leinster today !
@Darren Mullins: a 5 nation tournament means zero? Winning a single interpro match is a massive win. I’m sorry you have been spoilt but if you think the league is nothing ask any fan of the western province was winning the league meaningless.
@Darren Mullins: if it was meaningless why did they try so hard to win it?
@Rudiger McMonihan: Well Leinster’s best player and captain was on the bench rested for the final. So that tells a lot about how the competition is viewed.
@Gareth Ward: exactly it’s a joke of a competition!
@Chris Mc: if they could get the south African franchises to sign, then it would be a credible competition!!
Sarries by 3
@Cortiss: …thats an early morning ball hop anyway!! Match on now, Canterbury vs Taranaki and it is as good a rugby contest as I’ve seen in near 60 yrs. Try to catch a re-run if you want to be entertained. Its genuinely a classic.
Leinster by 12, they are just unstoppable
@Patrick O Connell: haha