Agence France-Presse
Berlin, Sept 3: With Manuel Neuer confirmed as his new captain, Joachim Loew plans to blood Germany’s next generation as part of his team’s preparations to defend their World Cup title in Russia.
Germany’s journey to the 2018 finals starts Sunday at Oslo’s Ullevaal Stadium in their opening qualifier against Norway. Since winning the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, head coach Loew has lost five experienced veterans, each of whom made more than 100 appearances for Germany.
Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose, Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and now Bastian Schweinsteiger, who bowed out in Wednesday’s 2-0 friendly win over Finland, have all retired from international football. With them went the collective experience of 604 caps and 152 goals.
But Germany’s next crop of talent is knocking at the door. Loew has said they will get their chance on the road to Russia, in forthcoming qualifiers and friendlies, plus next June’s Confederations Cup, against the likes of Portugal, Mexico, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and hosts Russia.
Hoffenheim defender Niklas Suele made his debut against Finland while Schalke’s Max Meyer and Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt also started in Moenchengladbach. All three are still only 20.
“They did well. You could see that we were taking a look at the future,” Loew said following a training session Friday. “It was either their first game, or one of their first, and we’ll be using games like that to give the players experience. That’s how I’ll most likely use the Confed Cup. I want to increase the prospects of the younger players. From now on, the door is wide open.”
For now however, Loew will take no risks with the starting line-up in Oslo, but Meyer and 21-year-old Bayern Munich defender Joshua Kimmich are expected to feature.
Germany’s preparations had stopped and stuttered in the build-up to Euro 2016. A semifinal defeat to hosts France no doubt, has dented the reputation of the World Champions and they would definitely seek redemption against Norway who lost their first qualifier to Belarus 0-1. “We will field a strong team. And we will win,” Loew insisted.
Home qualifiers against the Czech Republic and Northern Ireland, a friendly away to Italy and a trip to minnows San Marino will follow in October and November.
Neuer said four wins from their four qualifiers in 2016 are expected. He also asserted that it is his job to integrate tomorrow’s stars into the national set-up. “I try to speak to the young players and make sure they feel welcome,” stated Neuer.
Of Loew’s trusted core, Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller are still only 26, while Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Mesut Ozil are 27. Of the other World Cup winners, only Benedikt Hoewedes, Sami Khedira and Neuer will be the wrong side of 30 when the next World Cup kicks off in June 2018. So it will be a high for Loew as far as the mixture of youth and experience are concerned.
