Coverage of the qualification games for the 2016 UEFA European Championship continues on Bleacher Report on Sunday with the important Group D fixture between Georgia and Germany our focus.
Georgia have won just one of their four matches so far and sit in fifth place in the six-team group. They're not expected to challenge or trouble the top sides, but they have the odd player—such as Jano Ananidze or Jaba Kankava—who could make life difficult for the opposition.
Germany, meanwhile, suffered a tough start to life after several of their World Cup heroes retired from international football and have won two of their four games. They sit second in the group at present, level on points with Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, so there is no more room for slip-ups.
The match kicks off at 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET), with our coverage beginning half an hour beforehand.
Bastian Schweinsteiger to start against Georgia as Germany go for broke
German coach Joachim Löw plans attacking gameplan for Tbilisi contest
Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger will make his first start for Germany since the World Cup final last year when his team take on Georgia in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Tbilisi on Sunday, coach Joachim Löw said.
Schweinsteiger, who took over from Philipp Lahm as skipper following the team’s World Cup triumph in Brazil last year, has yet to feature after nursing a long-time injury that caused him to miss much of the first half of the season.
“Bastian Schweinsteiger will start tomorrow. Our overall formation will be an attacking one,” the coach told reporters on Saturday after resting Schweinsteiger for the 2-2 friendly draw against Australia on Wednesday.
“We need players who will box the opponents in their own half, who can operate up front. The concept will be an attacking one.”
The Germans, who are three points behind Group D leaders Poland, level with the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, are eager to get their qualification back on track.
They also struggled to draw with Asian champions Australia, although Löw did rest half a dozen regulars.
“With all due respect for our opponents, we will take the three points tomorrow with us,” Löw said.
“We have to light the fire tomorrow to win the three points. We know how important this is and we know of our current situation. I am convinced we can win it.
“Georgia have not as many points as they may have expected. Defensively they can operate very well.”
Löw has been struggling with his back line and has yet to decide whether to use a three-man defence which did not work well against Australia or go with a four.
“We will play various systems until the Euro,” he said. “What is more important is the good division of space and to remain flexible.
“For Georgia it may be the game of the decade and the stadium is sold out. We expect a fiery atmosphere,” Löw added.
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