Germany coach Joachim Loew admits Russia’s attacking style will test his team’s leaky defense when the two big names in Group Four square off in Dortmund today in their World Cup qualifier.
Group leaders Germany enjoyed a strong start on the path to South Africa 2010 when they hammered minnows Liechtenstein 6-0, but days later their fragile defense creaked in the 3-3 draw with Finland in Helsinki.
With the likes of rising star Andrei Arshavin in Russia’s ranks, Loew expects any lapse in concentration to be severely punished by the Russians who are just behind them in the group after beating Wales last month.
“There are often only a few moments between them winning the ball and completing an attack,” Loew said. “They have a balanced and disciplined team and their approach has become much more structured and organized.”
“If we make too many mistakes, we will be punished without mercy,” he said.
With Loew’s midfield generals Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings both back from injury, the German coach described the pairs influence as “enormous.”
“I feel good,” said Frings, back after a broken nose. “I hope that I can give the team some security with my return.”
“I want to prove again they can rely on me and I want to show I am still a good player in my position,” he said.
And Chelsea midfielder Ballack has brushed off his foot injury to retake his place at the team’s helm as captain.
Meanwhile, Germany goalkeeper Robert Enke has pulled out of tomorrow’s clash after fracturing his hand in training.
A scan on Thursday confirmed the fracture in the base of his left hand.
It means Germany will go into the game fielding an uncapped keeper, with Bayer Leverkusen’s Rene Adler thought likely to make his debut.
Enke had only just established himself in the side after winning his first cap in March last year in an international career which had stalled following an initial squad call-up in 1999.
The Hanover keeper had played all three of Germany’s matches since Jens Lehmann stepped down from the national team following the Euro 2008 final defeat to Spain, and was due to earn his fifth cap.
Adler was third-choice goalkeeper at the summer’s European Championships, but missed the start of the season and Germany’s last three games with a shoulder injury.
Loew also has the uncapped Werder Bremen keeper Tim Wiese in the squad.
Russia coach Guus Hiddink also has injury problems with striker Roman Pavlyuchenko, defender Denis Kolodin and midfielder Dmitry Torbinsky all ruled out.
Pavlyuchenko has been Russia’s key striker for the past 12 months, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over England in a crucial Euro 2008 qualifier last October and netting three goals at Euro 2008 during Russia’s run to the semi-finals.
For Germany, strikers Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose will play in front of a midfield expected to contain Bastian Schweinsteiger, Frings, Ballack and Thomas Hitzelsperger.
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