GERMANY HAVE BEEN dealt another injury blow with news that midfielder Mesut Özil has been ruled out of the side’s upcoming games against Poland and Ireland.
It is further bad news for the reigning world champions, who are already without Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Mario Gómez, Benedikt Höwedes and Marco Reus for the games.
The Irish team have injury problems themselves ahead of the clash, with Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy and Shay Given all expected to miss the match through injury.
Özil also misses a qualifier against minnows Gibraltar in Nuremberg on November 14, plus a friendly against European champions Spain on November 18.
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The player is added to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s mounting injury list and will miss the rest of the Gunners’ Champions League group stage matches, including the key Group D showdown at home to Borussia Dortmund on 26 November.
Chelsea forward André Schürrle also missed training on Wednesday with a muscular problem, but is expected to be fit.
“Things look good for Andre, he received some treatment on Tuesday, so it’s normal that he sat out training the day after,” said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.
Julian Draxler, of Schalke, is expected to join the squad once he recovers from illness.
Even without Özil, coach Joachim Löw has targeted six points from their games against Poland and Ireland to give the Germans control of Group D after they beat Scotland 2-1 in their opening match.
Bierhoff said Germany are rebuilding after established stars Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose all retired in the wake of their World Cup triumph in Brazil in July.
“We want to win both games and give ourselves a bit of a cushion in the qualifiers,” added Bierhoff.
“It’s going to be a tough October with two difficult games.
“We have to introduce several new players into the squad because of injuries and a few retirements.
“The team will have a different look to how it was two months ago.”
With Schweinsteiger injured, Germany will be captained by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the next two games.
“These are key games for us, it is important to keep playing well after the win over Scotland,” said Neuer, of Bayern Munich.
Löw is set to hand a first cap to Bayer Leverkusen attacking midfielder Karim Bellarabi, who has opted to play for Germany over Morocco, where his mother was born, on the back of several impressive displays in the Bundesliga.
No Schweinstieger, Ozi, Khedeira or Reus is almost their entire first choice midfield and they’ve yet to settle on a forward replacement for Klose and are still adjusting to life without their former captain Lahm. As good a chance as we’ll ever get to catch them out.
As an Arsenal fan I got to say this might be a blessing in disguise. His form just hasn’t been good enough this season. With the World Cup he hasn’t had a proper rest. Hopefully he’ll be back in January rested and ready to go.
Can’t say I agree. When is it a good thing that your record signing is injured for 3 months. His form is always up and down. Great against Aston Villa, shocking the following week. He is not fit for the premier league full stop. That was evident last season when he completely faded away after such a promising start. Don’t think he will ever live up to his price tag. This isn’t an attack on arsenal, I just don’t rate simply based on his inconsistency.
Yeah I think you’re right, just not suited to the PL. His first touches were so bad against Chelsea on Sunday. He still has moments of magic but not nearly enough. I really hope after the long lay off he’ll find form.
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No Schweinstieger, Ozi, Khedeira or Reus is almost their entire first choice midfield and they’ve yet to settle on a forward replacement for Klose and are still adjusting to life without their former captain Lahm. As good a chance as we’ll ever get to catch them out.
Yes but we have McCarthy and Coleman out, our only two daycent players in truth..
They still have likes of Goetze, Muller, Kroos, Schurle, Hummels, Boateng and gk Neurer to call upon..
*gulps*
That said feck it- 0-0 draw the shit outa it over in Germany ha
Missing for 10-12 weeks? He has been pretty much missing since he arrived in North London!!
As an Arsenal fan I got to say this might be a blessing in disguise. His form just hasn’t been good enough this season. With the World Cup he hasn’t had a proper rest. Hopefully he’ll be back in January rested and ready to go.
Can’t say I agree. When is it a good thing that your record signing is injured for 3 months. His form is always up and down. Great against Aston Villa, shocking the following week. He is not fit for the premier league full stop. That was evident last season when he completely faded away after such a promising start. Don’t think he will ever live up to his price tag. This isn’t an attack on arsenal, I just don’t rate simply based on his inconsistency.
Yeah I think you’re right, just not suited to the PL. His first touches were so bad against Chelsea on Sunday. He still has moments of magic but not nearly enough. I really hope after the long lay off he’ll find form.
He just looks like he’s dying for a smoke as he lazily saunters around the pitch mid second half
Phew, that will give us a chance – assuming the rest of the 1st, actually 2nd squad and 3rd squad get injured as well!
In truth, this is probably a bigger setback for Ireland than it is for Germany.
so this means Germany will only win 3 or 4 nil instead
His eyes are off side….
Can see both corner flags at the same time whilst inside the 6 yard box