Czech Republic vs Germany - Low serious about Czech threat
Posted Friday, September 01, 2017 by PA
Germany coach Joachim Low is refusing to underestimate the Czech Republic ahead of their World Cup qualifier in Prague on Friday.
The reigning champions have won all six of their Group C matches including a 3-0 mauling of Saturday's opponents in Hamburg, and another win will guarantee the world champions of at least a play-off place with three further matches to play.
The Czechs have fared less well and sit third in the table, nine points behind Germany, but Low believes they have not been playing to their potential and remain a genuine threat.
"The Czech Republic still has a good team when looking at the individual positions," Low said.
"We have a lot of respect for them as opponents, they have not been playing to their potential so far.
"Czech Republic are the strongest opponents of the group, they stand with their backs to the wall and have good players in the squad. That's the situation we face."
Low has an array of attacking talent at his disposal, but he told a press conference on the eve of the match at the Eden Arena that he is reluctant to establish a pecking order among his forwards.
"We have different types of players. Timo Werner is a player who is even better when he has a central striker in front of him," Low said.
"Mario Gomez and Sandro Wagner are central goal strikers with a strong presence.
"Lars Stindl is more of a floating player who operates in the spaces in between players.
"One must always see who is working with who when you look at the composition of the forwards. We have different options.
"Thomas Muller is also a player who moves from the midfield to the front, so the opposition always have to watch him
"We have all these different types of players and I'm glad about that."
Low has revealed that only a few places are up for grabs in the team.
"Mats Hummels, Manuel Neuer, Jonas Hector and Toni Kroos will play for example, and Mesut Ozil will play. Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start.
"Other than this, the positions are still open."
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