Germany has been utterly dominant over their European neighbours, Belgium in recent years. This is not to say that the Belgians haven’t beaten Germany previously; however their last win against the Germans dates back to 1954 in Brussels.
For Germany, this campaign announces a new beginning following their disappointing exit at the World Cup. They dazzled audiences with their lovely, precise, counter-attacking football but ultimately failed to break down eventual champions Spain in the semi-finals. Likewise, Germany’s last European Championship ended in defeat to Spain in the final. Plenty of changes have been made by coach Joachim Loew since then and a very different Germany will be heading to the qualifiers.
For Belgium, it is also a new beginning. Having failed to qualify for the two previous European championships, Belgium, now under the guidance of Georges Leekens, who took over in May will try to put their failings of the past decade behind them. This is the first competitive match that Leekens will be in charge of. He has left Belgium’s top scorer for their World Cup 2010 qualifying campaign, Wesley Snock behind.
Squads
Germany will be missing a few members of their squad. Serdar Tasci is not part of the squad due to his lack of regular first team football at Stuttgart this season while Piotr Trochowski, Dennis Aogo, Jerome Boateng and Arne Friedrich will be absent due to minor knocks or injury problems. The most notable absentee is Michael Ballack, who will apparently be given more time to “recover” from his injury despite the fact that he has featured for Leverkusen more often than not.
This is the squad for Germany:
Goalkeepers: René Adler (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04), Tim Wiese (SV Werder Bremen)
Defenders: Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern München), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (SV Werder Bremen), Sascha Riether (VfL Wolfsburg), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)
Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Real Madrid CF), Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München), Marko Marin (SV Werder Bremen), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid CF), Lukas Podolski (1. FC Köln), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München), Christian Träsch (VfB Stuttgart)
Forwards: Cacau (VfB Stuttgart), Mario Gómez (FC Bayern München), Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern München), Stefan Kießling (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
The back line for this match will be different from the World Cup due to injuries. Manuel Neuer will start in goal, Philipp Lahm will start as the right back and Per Mertesacker will occupy one of the spots in central defence. Perhaps, Heiko Westermann will start as Merte’s partner and Marcell Jansen will start at left-back.
The rest of the team will perhaps remain the same with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira as holding midfielders, Mesut Oezil, Thomas Mueller and Lukas Podolski as the attacking midfield trio and Miroslav Klose as the lone striker.
For Belgium, Timmy Simons returns to the squad after almost a year of absence from the national team. Leekens clearly has faith in the man who recently signed for Nuremberg. He believes that Simmons is a “young warrior” and he needs Simons in order to “achieve balance” in his squad.
This is the squad for Belgium:
Goalkeepers: Logan Bailly (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Jean-François Gillet (AS Bari), Silvio Proto (RSC Anderlecht)
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (AFC Ajax), Laurent Ciman (R. Standard de Liège), Olivier Deschacht (RSC Anderlecht), Guillaume Gillet (RSC Anderlecht), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City FC), Nicolas Lombaerts (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Daniel Van Buyten (FC Bayern München), Jelle Van Damme (Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), Thomas Vermaelen (Arsenal FC)
Midfielders: Kevin De Bruyne (KRC Genk), Mehdi Carcela (R. Standard de Liège), Steven Defour (R. Standard de Liège), Marouane Fellaini (Everton FC), Jonathan Legear (RSC Anderlecht), Timmy Simons (1. FC Nürnberg), Jan Vertonghen (AFC Ajax), Axel Witsel (R. Standard de Liège)
Forwards: Christian Benteke (R. Standard de Liège), Eden Hazard (LOSC Lille Métropole), Romelu Lukaku (RSC Anderlecht), Kevin Mirallas (Olympiacos FC), Jelle Vossen (KRC Genk)
Tactics
Belgium scored 13 goals in their qualifying campaign for the 2010 World Cup and conceded 20. Their man focus will perhaps be a point rather than all three in a fixture where they have failed in recent years. Belgium has very good attackers and thus could exploit Germany on the break.
Thomas Vermaelen is a very accomplished defender who is almost guaranteed a start. Germany’s main aim perhaps will be to exploit not Vermaelen, but Bayern man Daniel Van Buyten. Seven Bayern players are in the squad and they all know about the “Belgian bull”. They know his strengths and weaknesses and will perhaps try to use pace to outdo him. Belgium’s keeper Logan Bailly is however not very easy to beat.
Germany will perhaps go out and attack in full force and Belgium will perhaps try to sit back primarily and catch Germany out via counter-attacks.
Prediction
It is difficult to pick an outright winner at the moment; but Germany will perhaps just edge this one out.
Final Score: Belgium 1-2 Germany
