Germany to restore pride in Belfast: Low

Oct 4, 2017 - 6:00 PM Germany boss Joachim Low hopes his dominant side can restore some national pride in Northern Ireland having called Bundesliga clubs' recent results in Europe "alarming".

As reigning World Cup and Confederations Cup holders, there is little concern surrounding Low's side heading into Thursday night's penultimate qualifier in Belfast, when anything but a home win will ensure Die Mannschaft are in Russia to defend their title.

Yet Low is worried by the state of Germany's domestic game after Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Hertha Berlin, Hoffenheim and Cologne were all beaten across the Champions League or Europa League last week.

Bayern's victory over Anderlecht is the only win a German side has managed in a continental group game this term, while there have been nine defeats.

"The weak performances of German clubs in Europe is hopefully just a momentary blip but it is alarming," Low said.

"Is it a general trend? I would say it's too early. (But) For a while now we've been thinking about how to improve things in the Bundesliga and it's wrong to praise the Bundesliga to high heaven or say only the Bundesliga produces the best talent.

"That would be untrue and people who say this have been humbled by this experience. We have to recognise this.

"We know this from sending scouts to European countries. We know there is talent all around the world and the Bundesliga isn't the be-all and end-all.

"This is our task to provide people back home with enjoyment of what German football should be about."

Source: AAP