voldemort

The End Is In Sight
Two home games remain for Germany, who have already qualified from Group D alongside the Czech Republic. What looked like an easy canter to first place has been somewhat upset by the Czech’s victory in Munich.
With the two teams level on points and the Czech Republic only ahead because of a better head-to-head record, the Germans will look to regain their advantage on Saturday with three points against Cyprus.
With the Czechs facing a tricky tie with neighbours and former countrymen Slovakia, this weekend could determine who actually finishes top of the group.
Löw Looking For Two Wins
National trainer Joachim Löw has urged his side to finish their campaign with two wins and restore a little lost pride after their recent 3-0 loss to the Czech Republic.
There is much speculation about both Germany and the Czechs being happy to finish second so as to avoid a so-called ‘Group of Death’ in the finals in the summer, but a home loss to the Cypriots is unthinkable for the trainer and the home fans, who want to see a real display.
The loss to the Czechs back in October dented Germany’s unbeaten record, although fortunately didn’t harm their qualification having already secured their passage.
“We made errors which we have not seen for a long time against the Czech Republic, that is something we still need to talk about, because a performance like that will not be tolerated again” Löw explained.
“We want to finish the two games with wins and then take the necessary confidence into our preparations for next summer’s European Championships. The players have to show good form, not only in the next two games, but also in the seven or eight training camps we will have.”
Cyprus To Make History?
The Cypriots are out to achieve their best ever finish in a competitive qualification tournament. Never before have they finished any higher than second from bottom, so the prospect of beating the likes of the Republic of Ireland, Wales and Slovakia into third place would be a superb achievement.
Cyprus have already beaten a number of national records in the current campaign. Their tally of 14 points is two better than their biggest previous haul, in the qualifiers for UEFA EURO 2000, and they have also beaten their previous best in terms of goalscoring by five goals, with 17 scored so far.
The minnows have already earned famous wins against the Republic of Ireland and Wales as well as a 1-1 draw at home against Germany. However, the wrong results in their final games could also see them end their campaign second from bottom.
Coach Angelos Anastasiadis is keen however for Cyprus not to get overly carried away with themselves. “The Germans will capitalise on any mistakes so we have to be wary of them. As far as we're concerned, we will try to take advantage of any errors the Germans make” he said.
“I told the players that they have a huge challenge ahead of them and that they must rise to it. It is my hope that we continue to give our best in what has been a good campaign for us.”
FORM GUIDE: Euro 2008 Qualifiers only
Germany


Germany - San Marino
6 - 0
02/06/2007
Germany - Slovakia
2 - 1
06/06/2007
Wales - Germany
0 - 2
08/09/2007
Ireland - Germany
0 - 0
13/10/2007
Germany - Czech Rep.
0 - 3
17/10.2007
Cyprus

Czech Rep. - Cyprus
1 - 0
28/03/2007
San Marino - Cyprus
0 - 1
22/08/2007
Cyprus - San Marino
3 - 0
12/09/2007
Cyprus - Wales
3 - 1
13/10/2007
Ireland - Cyprus
0 - 1
17/10/2007
TEAM NEWS
Germany
The Germans have a number of fresh injuries to add to the already lengthy list they were having to deal with. Key midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been ruled out with a knee injury he picked up on Wednesday, while his Bayern Munich team-mate Marcell Jansen is also out with an ankle injury suffered in training. Neither player is expected to recover in time for the next qualifier against Wales on Wednesday.
Joachim Löw was already without Michael Ballack, Bernd Schneider, Torsten Frings, Philip Lahm, Kevin Kuranyi and Christian Pander- most of whom would have been first-choice starters. Jermaine Jones has also been forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury.
Even with the absentees, Löw still has enough quality at his disposal to field a very strong side. The trainer looks set to play Jens Lehmann in goal for his 50th cap, even though the Arsenal stopper hasn’t featured in any of the Gunner’s last 16 games after losing his place to Manuel Almunia.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Robert Enke (Hannover), Timo Hildebrand (Valencia), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal).
Defenders: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart).
Midfielders: Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg).
Forwards: Mario Gómez (Stuttgart), Mike Hanke (Hannover ), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich).
Possible Starting XI: Lehmann, A. Friedrich, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Lahm, Borowski, Hitzlsperger, Hilbert, Trochowski, Klose, Gomez
Cyprus
Celta Vigo striker Yiannis Okkas is hopeful of overcoming a slight knee injury in time to face the Germans in Hannover. Apart from Okkas, Apollon Limassol midfielder Christos Marangos is the only other injury doubt for the Greek coach.
Michalis Konstantinou of Olympiakos has been recalled to the squad after injury. The striker was not involved against Ireland or Wales. Also back from suspension is speedy winger Estathios Aloneftis.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Antonis Giorgallides (AC Omonia), Sofronis Avgoustis (AEK Larnaca), Michalis Morfis (APOEL).
Defenders: Lambros Lambrou (Anorthosis Famagusta), Paraskevas Christou (AEK Larnaca), Stelios Okkarides (Apollon Limassol), Christis Theofilou (Apollon Limassol), Georgios Theodotou (AC Omonia), Alexandros Garpozis (Apollon Limassol), Marios P. Nicolaou (Panionios), Elias Charalambous (PAOK).
Midfielders: Chrysostomos Michael (APOEL), Konstantinos Makrides (APOEL), Marinos Satsias (APOEL), Christos Marangos (Apollon Limassol), Konstantinos Charalampidis (Carl Zeiss Jena). Forwards: Yiasoumis Yiasoumi (Aris Limassol), Michalis Konstantinou (Olympiakos), Yiannis Okkas (Celta Vigo), Efstathios Aloneftis (Energie Cottbus), Nektarios Alexandrou (Larissa).
Possible Starting XI: Georgallidis, Theodotou, Okkaridis, Christou, Charalambous, Michail, Satsias, Nikolaou, Aloneftis, Okkas, Konstantinou
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Germany-Jens Lehmann
The experienced keeper has been frozen out at the Emirates by Arsene Wenger, and his time there now seems numbered as Manuel Almunia seems firmly entrenched as the Gunner’s number one. However, against Cyprus Lehmann will be winning his 50th cap and will want to show that he still has the quality to remain Germany’s first-choice for the Euro 2008 finals.
Cyprus-Michalis Konstantinou
Konstantinou will in all likelihood make his return to the starting line-up following an injury, which kept him out of the previous two internationals. With two goals to his name already in the qualification process, the Olympiakos striker will want to finish the tournament with a flurry of goals, and one against Germany would certainly be most welcome.
PREDICTION
Even though the Germans lost last time out, and were given a scare in the corresponding away fixture in Cyprus, it is very difficult to predict anything other than a German win. The Germans would do well not to underestimate the Cypriots, but with a number of fringe players with a point to prove to Joachim Löw, expect a home win.
Germany 3 Cyprus 1


source:goal.com