Germany boss warns his team that there will be no room for error in tonight's Euro 2016 qualifying encounter against Scotland at Dortmund
Germany's coach Joachim Loew (in black) talks with his players during a training session in Dortmund on Saturday ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland. Pic/AFP
Dortmund: Following a 2-4 defeat against Argentina, Germany manager Joachim Loew expects Jerome Boateng's return to help the world champions improve in their first European Championship qualifying match against Scotland today.
Germany's coach Joachim Loew (in black) talks with his players during a training session in Dortmund on Saturday ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland. Pic/AFP
In the absence of Boateng, the German back line was cut open regularly in the friendly defeat by World Cup runners-up Argentina in Duesseldorf on Wednesday.
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But Loew is hoping his team can put that setback behind them when they host Scotland in Dortmund in a Euro 2016 qualifier today.
Lapses in concentration
"Overall in the first half (against Argentina) we weren't too badly organised," Loew said on Saturday.
"There were some problems with concentration and you saw that if you make mistakes like that against a top-class team you get punished.
"We can't do that tomorrow. We have to close the space down and we have to concentrate for the full 90 minutes.
"Scotland had relatively few problems in the build up and they have nothing to lose playing against the world champions.
"They're very motivated, they cover a lot of ground and they're physical in the tackle.
"But for the last few months we've seen that they don't play a typical British game. They're trying to play more football."
Having lost record goalscorer Miroslav Klose to retirement after the World Cup, Germany started Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez up front on his own against Argentina.
Gomez had a difficult evening on his return from injury, though, missing three clear chances and being booed by the crowd when he was substituted in the second half.
'Gomez needs games'
Loew would not confirm if the 29-year-old would start against Scotland but he did offer a robust defence of the former Bayern Munich player. "He's done a lot for the German team in the past and he's scored a lot of goals," Loew said.
"He's only played one competitive game for Fiorentina after seven months out through injury. He needs games.
"When Mario is in top form, he's a world class player and one of the best strikers around.
"Booing any player isn't fair. It doesn't help the player and it doesn't help our team. I think the Dortmund fans will stand behind our players."
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