Manchester United and Arsenal Stars Feature in Germany’s Possible Lineup to Face Ireland

World Champions Germany are facing the Republic of Ireland later tonight in the 2016 Euro Qualifiers at the Aviva Stadium. Manager Joachim Low has named almost an unchanged squad for their final two qualifiers from the side that triumphed in both of their last two matches at the start of last month.

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Bayern Munich Custodian Manuel Neuer will be the goalkeeper ahead of Barcelona’s Ter Stegan.

Defence: Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Emre Can

Ever since the retirement of Arsenal‘s Per Mertasacker and Phillip Lahm after winning the World Cup, the German defence is unsettled and it continues to be so for the clash against Ireland. FC Koln defender Jonas Hector and Liverpool’s Emre Can will play as fullbacks while the experienced pair of Bayer Munich’s Jerome Boateng and Borussia Dortmund’s Mats Hummels will be the two central defenders. It was expected that Shkodran Mustafi will get a place in the starting XI, but Low will not take chances until the team qualifies for the Euros and the Valencia defender is expected to come on later in the game.

Midfield: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Marco Reus

Manchester United’s latest signing and the German Skipper Bastian Schweinsteiger along with Real Madrid star Toni Kroos will start as holding midfielders while Bayern Munich’s in-form midfielder Thomas Muller will start in the right with Arsenal wizard Mesut Ozil playing as the CAM. Marco Reus, who was injured during Germany’s last International break returns to the playing XI and will play on the left ahead of Bayer Leverkusen’s Kevin Bellarabi. Reus’ Borussia Dortmund teammate Ilkay Gundogan along with Wolfsburg’s Andre Schurlle will make an impact later on in the game.

 

Forward: Mario Gotze

Bayern Munich’s Mario Gotze will play as the striker ahead of Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland and Wolfsburg’s Max Kruse.