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It is fair to say that Germany laboured to a 3-0 win over the Faroe Islands in their opening World Cup qualifier with two second-half goals from Real Madrid's Mesut Ozil saving the Germans' blushes - allowing them top Group C in the race for Brazil 2014.
It is a result which will give hope to the Republic of Ireland perhaps, who will host the Deutsche Mansschaft at the AVIVA Stadium on Friday night in the second qualifying match for the World Cup in two years time. Or will it? Afterall Germany finished third at the last European Championship, were runners up in 2008 with two third places at the World Cup finals of 2010 and 2006, so the statistics show little evidence of such optimism.
In truth though in sixteen meetings Ireland have drawn seven, lost five and won four - all numbers which offer a few possible outcomes for Friday.
Although watching Ozil cause havoc at the Camp Nou on Sunday night against the midfield maestros at FC Barcelona, ably assisted by Sammy Khedira, the movement, control and speed of thought should be cause for serious concern. Particularly against the normal static and rigid defensive system so favoured by Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni.
The thought is even more spine chilling when you add the names of Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze into the midfield mix.
There are also only scary memories to draw on after EURO 2012 when Croatia under Luka Modric mauled Ireland, the devastating attacking flair of Torres showed why Spaiun were to become Champions, all ending for the Republic with a loss to Forza Italia - where in a few minute spectacle Mario Balotelli acted as demolish man.
With some of the bigger names now gone from those summer battles – Shay Given, Damian Duff, Richard Dunne – and others such as Kevin Doyle absent and James McClean, Glen Whelan and Sean St ledger doubtful, the challenge of holding off the German onslaught looks more than challenging.
The memories of that June day in Ibaraki at the 2002 World Cup in Japan may only boost a struggling Robbie Keane – who is the last member of the Ireland squad that day still playing – with his goal proving vital late into injury time.
The news over the weekend that Schweinsteiger was included in the German squad was perhaps also untimely from an Irish perspective.
The Bayern Munich midfielder was left out of Germany's last two fixtures against the Faroe Islands and Austria. A niggling injury causing his absence from the national team with coach Joachim Low now convinced by his return to club action in the Bundesliga with three goals in recent games.
"We did not choose him last time for a reason and that was to give him a chance in peace and quiet to get back into a training and match rhythm," said Low.
"His performances with Bayern have shown that this was precisely the right choice. I am delighted that Bastian is back with us. It was always certain that Bastian would be in the squad for Ireland and Sweden."
The rest of Low's 22-man squad is identical to the one which won their first two qualifying games last month with the exception of Julian Draxler's inclusion.
The young midfielder broke his arm in Schalke's midweek UEFA Champions League draw with Montpellier. "It is obviously a very bitter injury for Julian," said Low. "We all wish him a speedy recovery."
Germany travel to Dublin next Friday night to face the Irish before hosting Sweden in Berlin four days later and Low says it is going to be a crucial few days of qualifying action.
"We have already laid the foundations for the qualification, but now it gets very serious," he said. "We know that we are favourites in the group and that is why we want to be successful in both of these games. We know what to expect in terms of the atmosphere in Dublin. The Irish will give everything in front of their own fans to beat us in their own stadium."
The visit of Sweden to the capital a week on Tuesday will be Germany's final home appointment of 2012 and Low wants to "end the year with a win in front of our own fans."
"It is not going to be easy, though," he added. "Sweden don't only have their world class striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but they also have an excellent team unity."
Germany squad: Neuer (Bayern Munich), Zieler (Hannover), Ter Stegen (Monchengladbach); Badstuber, Boateng, Lahm (all Bayern Munich), Hummels, Schmelzer (both Dortmund), Howedes (Schalke), Mertesacker (Arsenal); Gotze, Gundogan, Reus (all Dortmund), Kroos, Muller, Schweinsteiger (all Bayern Munich), Bender, Schurrle (both Leverkusen), Khedira, Ozil (both Real Madrid); Podolski (Arsenal), Klose (Lazio).
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