Northern Ireland v Germany

FACTFILE GERMANY Words Liam Blackburn

INTERNATIONAL

» » One of the greatest international teams in world football return to Belfast for the second time in under two years, with something akin to a friendship having been established between the two countries in recent times. » » Germany were the reigning world champions when they faced Michael O'Neill's men in Paris at Euro 2016. Die Mannschaft produced a display that was befitting of their status as the best team on the planet but were thwarted time and again by Michael McGovern. His eight saves ensured Germany only secured a 1-0 victory and Northern Ireland subsequently made it through to the last 16. » » The Germans developed an appreciation for the Green and White Army that day and when Joachim Low's side beat O'Neill's side 2-0 in Hannover in a 2018 World Cup qualifier a few months later Gala's 'Freed From Desire' - an adopted Northern Ireland anthem about Will Grigg being on fire - was the first song played after the final whistle. » » Sebastian Rudy's astonishing second-minute opener from long range set Germany on course for a 3-1 win at the National Football Stadium at Windsor Park in 2017 but Low's team have had a difficult and transformative couple of years since. » » Their world title defence in Russia was a disaster as Germany bowed out at the group stage having won just one of their three games and losing the other two to Mexico and South Korea. » » Long-serving boss Low stayed on but then saw his team relegated from the top tier of the UEFA Nations League as they failed to win any of their four games against Netherlands or France, the team that had succeeded them as world champions. » » Having won just four of their 13 games in 2018, Low said of 2019: "This is the year for our new beginning." That meant World Cup winners Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Muller were all informed they would no longer be considered for the national team. » » Indeed Manuel Neuer was the only World Cup winner to start the 1-1 friendly draw with Serbia in March. Instead Low is largely looking to the next generation to bring Germany back to the top. » » It was such a transition that Low oversaw in 2010 when he selected six players 21 or under, including Toni Kroos, Mesut Ozil, Boateng and Muller, for the World Cup in South Africa.

» » Despite fielding the second youngest team at the tournament, Germany would reach the semi-finals and get knocked out by Spain, the team that had defeated them in the Euro 2008 final as well. » » By the time the 2014 World Cup came around Germany were ready to take the next step and, although they needed extra time to see off Algeria in the last 16, it was the 7-1 demolition of hosts Brazil in the last four that made the world take notice. » » Miroslav Klose scored his 16th World Cup goal in that fixture, surpassing Ronaldo as the competition's all-time leading marksman, while Brazil suffered their first competitive home defeat in 39 years. » » The final was a far tighter affair but Mario Gotze came off the bench to score the winner against Argentina after Low told him to "show the world you're better than Messi". » » That delivered Germany's fourth World Cup, adding to the successes West Germany achieved in 1954, 1974 and 1990. » » Gerd Muller, the 1970 World Cup golden boot winner, was integral to the 1974 success and scored the winner in the final in Munich before retiring with 68 goals in 62 international appearances. His team- mate Franz Beckenbauer became only the second man to win the World Cup as a player and coach when guiding Lothar Matthaus and Co to glory again in 1990. » » Despite their global dominance across the decades, Northern Ireland have enjoyed some fine results against German teams. Eight years before their 1990 success, West Germany had been beaten in a European Championships qualifier by Northern Ireland thanks to a goal from Ian Stewart and, in the return fixture in Hamburg, Billy Bingham's side again emerged victorious as Norman Whiteside scored the winner. » » The two countries met again in a 1998 World Cup qualifier in Nuremburg in 1996 and Germany's winless streak against Northern Ireland was extended to five matches in a 1-1 draw. The Euro 1996 winners were rocked by Gerry Taggart's brilliant opening goal only for Andreas Moller to reply. » » That was the last time Germany failed to beat Northern Ireland, with Oliver Bierhoff coming off the bench to score a seven-minute hat-trick a year later after Michael Hughes had opened the scoring and given Northern Ireland hope of another famous success.

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