Germany (National Football)

Joachim Low has hinted Manuel Neuer will remain Germany's first-choice goalkeeper but reiterated deputy Marc-Andre ter Stegen will get chances after coming on during Wednesday's 1-1 friendly draw against Serbia. 

The Germany manager was asked by reporters if Neuer's start against Serbia suggested the Bayern Munich man will keep his place for Sunday's UEFA Euro 2020 qualifier against the Netherlands, to which he replied:

"You can assume that. At the end of last week or in the past, I've already said that Marc-Andre will definitely have some chances. That's my plan.

"Now we have just made one game, in this one he has played a half. That was our decision, that Manuel plays as captain in the first half.

"In the second half then Marc-Andre played, but we still have some games during the year, and he will certainly get his opportunity."

Barcelona star Ter Stegen has his supporters as the heir to Neuer's throne, a position Bayern's No. 1 has governed almost without challenge for nearly a decade. He's earned 85 caps since making his debut in 2009 when he was at Schalke. 

Low indicated prior to the midweek friendly that Ter Stegen would continue to get chances in the national team, and DW Sports contrasted this season's statistics for the goalkeeping duo:

Manuel Neuer
👕 34 games
⚽️ 32 goals conceded
🔒 14 clean sheets

Marc-André ter Stegen
👕 37 games
⚽️ 33 goals conceded
🔒 15 clean sheets

A close decision...? pic.twitter.com/Kl9YnUuu1X

— DW Sports (@dw_sports) March 15, 2019

Neuer—who turns 33 on March 27—has kept two clean sheets in his last 12 international outings; Eintracht Frankfurt striker Luka Jovic headed in at the Volkswagen Arena after only 12 minutes on Wednesday.

The Bayern veteran has earned major plaudits during his career for popularising the sweeper 'keeper role, but questions have been raised over his effectiveness this season and whether he's past his best.

Journalist Manuel Veth took his injury absence last season into account when judging Neuer's 2018-19 campaign, though an increase in mistakes committed can't be ignored:

3. Manuel Neuer

Finally the captain of #DieMannschaft. Nine clean sheets and still an outstanding passing statistics but also plenty of mistakes this season. I think a grace period given his lengthy injury has to be granted but it will be on for him next season. pic.twitter.com/LjjgNNHYQy

— Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) March 18, 2019

Ter Stegen, meanwhile, has kept up consistent form between the sticks for Barcelona and has earned calls to take the No. 1 jersey, having excelled since joining from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2014.

Liverpool's Sadio Mane scored the Reds' first in their 3-1 win at the Allianz Arena in the UEFA Champions League when he capitalised on Neuer's inexplicable run out from goal to score in an open net (U.S. only):

https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1105933850096603139

Though Mane's turn and finish deserved huge credit, the goal exploited a noticeable lack of agility and reaction time from Neuer, who might have been expected to make the save in years gone by, via BT Sport (UK only):

Sadio Mané sending Manuel Neuer for a 🌭

The full #NoFilterUCL episode from Bayern 1-3 Liverpool is dropping soon 🙏pic.twitter.com/iHzly383vs

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 14, 2019

It's likely Euro 2020 could be Neuer's last chance to feature at a major international tournament for Germany. The Bayern stopper will be 34 at next summer's tournament and 36 by the time the 2022 FIFA World Cup kicks off in Qatar (November 2022).

Low recently wielded his axe and cut the Bayern trio of Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng from the national team, though Neuer was among the club's more experienced stars to keep his place.

That move signalled no player is untouchable within Low's camp, but Neuer has stood tall and will continue to fight for his place as Germany's No. 1 heading into next year's European Championship.  

Germany manager Joachim Low played down fears Leroy Sane suffered a serious injury during his team's 1-1 friendly with Serbia on Wednesday in Wolfsburg.

The Manchester City winger required treatment after being fouled by Milan Pavkov in stoppage time, and Low said he was fortunate to have escaped serious injury, per Sky Sports News:

BREAKING: @DFB_Team_EN head coach Joachim Low says Leroy Sane's injury against Serbia "not too serious" and should be fit to play Netherlands on Sunday.

"It was a vicious foul. Sane was lucky and got away with not getting hurt but such fouls can break bones." #SSN pic.twitter.com/RHZjx3MBcQ

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) March 20, 2019

Pavkov was sent off for the challenge as Serbia ended the game with 10 men. The visitors had taken the lead in the first half through Luka Jovic, but Leon Goretzka equalised after the break for Die Mannschaft.

Sports journalist Andy Hampson was critical of the Red Star Belgrade striker's challenge:

Horrendous challenge on Sane in Germany game tonight. Guardiola will be holding his breath... but he seems OK

— Andy Hampson (@andyhampson) March 20, 2019

Sane was taken off shortly after the incident but also moved to calm fears regarding his fitness:

🗣️ @LeroySane19: "The foul looked worse than it was, everything is fine with my ankle."#DieMannschaft #GERSRB 🇩🇪🇷🇸 pic.twitter.com/bEG2b1U5Ld

— German Football (@DFB_Team_EN) March 20, 2019

The 21-year-old was one of Germany's brighter performers against Serbia. His speed and willingness to run at defenders caused problems throughout the match.

Germany now head to Amsterdam for their next match, a 2020 European Championship qualifier against the Netherlands on Monday.

Sane will be expected to start the game as Germany aim to get their qualifying campaign off to a good start after a disappointing 2018 FIFA World Cup and poor showing in the UEFA Nations League.

Joachim Low's new-look Germany side drew 1-1 with Serbia in an international friendly on Wednesday in Wolfsburg.

The hosts went behind after 12 minutes through Luka Jovic's first international goal for Serbia. A corner in from Adem Ljajic found its way to an unmarked Jovic to head past Manuel Neuer.

Timo Werner had Germany's best chance in the opening 45 minutes but was denied by a brilliant save from goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic from close range.

Serbia were unfortunate not to extend their lead in the first half. Ljajic and Nikola Milenkovic both wasted good chances, and Germany were whistled off by home fans at half-time.

Low sent on Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Marco Reus on for the second half, and Germany put in an improved showing and forced Dmitrovic into a number of good saves.

Nikola Maksimovic also made a brilliant goalline clearance from Ilkay Gundogan after the Manchester City midfielder had rounded the goalkeeper.

Germany finally got the equaliser they deserved on 69 minutes. Substitute Leon Goretzka curled the ball past Dmitrovic from inside the penalty area to rescue a draw.

Serbia finished the game with 10 men after Milan Pavkov was sent off for a poor challenge on Leroy Sane in stoppage time.

    

Low Will Regret Ditching Hummels and Boateng

Low caused a stir by announcing Bayern Munich trio Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels were no longer in his plans ahead of the match.

The 59-year-old is keen on a fresh approach after a disappointing 2018 and named a youthful team against Serbia:

Our first starting XI of 2019! 🇩🇪🇷🇸#DieMannschaft #GERSRB pic.twitter.com/KI8jvV4EZ6

— German Football (@DFB_Team_EN) March 20, 2019

However, the game showed his decision to dispense with Hummels and Boateng may be premature and likely will be one he comes to regret.

Jonathan Tah and Niklas Sule lined up in central defence against Serbia and put in a less-than-convincing display, as Serbia were able to create plenty of chances.

Sule was nowhere to be seen on 12 minutes when Jovic was left all alone in the penalty area to head home the opener.

The visitors should have had more goals too but were let down by some poor finishing in front of goal, and the home supporters made their frustrations plain at the break:

HT: 🇩🇪 0 - 1 🇷🇸

Boos ring out around the Volkswagen Arena as the half-time whistle is blown. Can #Germany turn this around? #Football #GERSRB pic.twitter.com/GGObdEl5wI

— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS_EN) March 20, 2019

Low should be concerned by his team's defensive shortcoming against Serbia ahead of their opening Euro 2020 game against the Netherlands.

Germany failed to beat Ronald Koeman's side in two UEFA Nations League games in 2018, and the Dutch will fancy their chances against a German team lacking experience and authority in defence.

   

Luka Jovic Shows He's the Real Deal

Serbia striker Jovic has attracted plenty of speculation over his future after a superb campaign on loan at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he's scored 22 goals in all competitions for the club this season.

La Liga champions Barcelona are preparing a €50 million (£43 million) bid for the 21-year-old, according to the Guardian's Fabrizio Romano.

Jovic showed what all the hype is about against Germany with his first international goal:

1 - @eintracht_us Frankfurt's Luka #Jovic scored his first goal for #Serbia with his first touch in the game. Star. #GERSRB pic.twitter.com/brJoVpFcSB

— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) March 20, 2019

The striker needed only 12 minutes to score with a well-directed header that left Neuer with no chance.

He might have had a second midway through the first half but was denied by a crucial block by Lukas Klostermann.

Jovic also offers more than just goals. His passing and movement caused problems, and he showed how difficult he is to shrug off the ball.

Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic has likened Jovic to Barcelona's Luis Suarez:

Serbia coach Mladen Krstajic on Luka Jovic: “He’s a classic goal-getter with great control of the ball and a good understanding of the game. I’d probably compare him to Luis Suarez.” pic.twitter.com/w9L3DYpUEn

— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) March 19, 2019

Jovic showed against Germany he's quite at home on the international stage, and his performance will surely fuel further interest in the striker ahead of the summer transfer window.

       

What's Next?

Germany open their 2020 European Championship qualifying campaign on Sunday against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. Serbia are in action a day later, they play their first game of the tournament away to defending champions Portugal.

Germany welcome Serbia in an international friendly on Wednesday, with the hosts ringing the changes after the omission of several senior players.

Die Mannschaft manager Joachim Low faces two matches in quick succession, and he has announced he will no longer select Bayern Munich stars Thomas Muller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng for his squads.

Instead, a number of young prospects have been included, with Lukas Klostermann and Niklas Stark in line for their first senior caps.

Serbia will field a side packed with energy and experience, and they will offer the new-look Germany a stiff test at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg.

                        

Date: Wednesday, March 20

Time: 7:45 p.m. GMT/3:45 p.m. ET

TV Info: Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Mix (UK); ESPN3, Univision (U.S.)

Live Stream: Sky Go (UK); WatchESPN, Univision NOW (U.S.)

Odds: Germany: 4-9, Serbia: 7-1, draw: 39-10

(Odds via Oddschecker)

                               

Preview

Low has taken the brave step of multiple changes as he attempts to relight the fire in the German camp.

After effectively ending the international careers of three of his regular squad members, the coach has put his faith in some of the country's burgeoning starlets.

Leroy Sane failed to make the squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup after an outstanding campaign for Manchester City last term, but the forward is likely to be handed a regular starting role from now on.

The Bundesliga is full of youngsters chomping at the bit, and the time has come for a number of them to make the step up.

According to Karolos Grohmann of Reuters (via MailOnline), Low explained his thinking for the four-time world champions:

"We now face a new time, a new challenge. I have to give the team the feeling that we fully trust them. We have to give them the chance to develop, take over more responsibilities and also during a rough patch offer them solutions when they make mistakes so they have the trust to go into the next months."

Germany were humbled in Russia last summer, as they failed to make it out of the group stage. This was followed up by relegation in the UEFA Nations League.

Low has held on to his job during these difficult times, and the 59-year-old has come up with a progressive selection to combat the team's malaise.

Serbia arrive in Lower Saxony in fine fettle. The Eagles are unbeaten in their last six outings in the Nations League and have registered three clean sheets.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic has developed into one of the most talented all-round midfielders in Europe, but he has struggled to recreate his best since the World Cup.

The Lazio star has scored just three goals and provided three assists in Serie A and Europe this term.

Despite saying goodbye to household names, Germany are well-placed to overturn their recent slump.

Low is lucky to have several young players who could develop into world-class entities before the next qualification period for the 2022 World Cup.

The upcoming 2020 European Championship campaign will be a testing time for the Germans, but the growing pains will be essential during the latest transition.

Germany begin their Euro 2020 qualifiers against the Netherlands in Amsterdam on Sunday.

Germany manager Joachim Low has said he wants to convey a feeling of trust in his players after he axed Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels from the side. 

The World Cup-winning trio from 2014 were told earlier in March they will not feature under him again:

📰 @esmuellert_, @matshummels and @JB17Official have been told by Joachim #Löw today that they are no longer part of his #DieMannschaft plans 👉 https://t.co/YEoV67h6vz pic.twitter.com/KAItK9h5Jq

— German Football (@DFB_Team_EN) March 5, 2019

Per Reuters' Karolos Grohmann (via MailOnline), Low said:

"We are now face a new time, a new challenge. I have to give the team the feeling that we fully trust them.

"We have to give them the chance to develop, take over more responsibilities and also during a rough patch offer them solutions when they make mistakes so they have the trust to go into the next months."

Die Mannschaft take on Serbia in a friendly on Wednesday before facing the Netherlands in a 2020 UEFA European Championship qualifier on Sunday.

Germany are hoping to get 2019 off to a positive start after a disastrous 2018. Having failed to make it out of their group at the FIFA World Cup in Russia, they were relegated from their UEFA Nations League group, collecting just two points from four matches against France and the Netherlands.

Low detailed what he is hoping to see from his players this year:

"What is important is to have more tempo, more dynamism, more focus up front.

"I know how to deal with pressure. I can feel what it means in the current position. We have learned from setbacks. We now need to have a completely different attitude from the year 2018."

To that end, he has named a new-look squad packed with young talent, per Scouted Football:

Three of the above are debutants in Jogi Löw's senior squad:

🇩🇪 Maximilian Eggestein
🇩🇪 Lukas Klostermann
🇩🇪 Niklas Stark

They've made over 240 Bundesliga appearances in total, and have 96 youth team caps between them. pic.twitter.com/5AEhcX19oe

— SCOUTED (@scoutedftbl) March 16, 2019

Muller is only 29, while Boateng and Hummels are 30, so it seemed a little harsh to potentially end their international careers entirely.

Bleacher Report's Gianni Verschueren disagreed with the decision:

https://twitter.com/ReverschPass/status/1103374172842016768

The trio could still return to the Germany setup if a new manager takes over at some point, but until then Germany will be moving on without three of their biggest stars.

While they alone were not responsible for the national side's failings last year, the break does afford some younger players the opportunity to freshen things up.

The Netherlands took four points off Germany in the Nations League, so they're a tough opponent to begin their qualifying campaign against.

Die Mannschaft will need to take full advantage of their friendly against Serbia to find a new rhythm ahead of Sunday's match.

Germany manager Joachim Low has announced Bayern Munich trio Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels are no longer in his plans.

Speaking ahead of the upcoming international break in late March, Lowe confirmed he is ready to initiate a "new beginning" for his side.

According to the German Football Association's official website, the coach said he would now put his faith in the country's next generation of talent in the squad for the friendly with Serbia (March 20) and 2020 UEFA European Championships qualifier against the Netherlands (March 24).

"2019 is a new beginning for the Germany national team. It was important for me to personally explain my decision to the players and the FC Bayern management.

[...]

"Now it's time to set the course for the future. We want to give the team a new look. I am convinced that this is the right step. The youngsters coming through will have the room they need to grow. Now it's up to them to take on responsibility."

The decision to exclude 29-year-old Muller from future squads will have been a tough choice. However, the forward has only found the net six times for his club in 32 appearances this season

Boetang and Hummels are both 30 and remain regulars at Bayern, but the pair have been short of their best in the Bundesliga this term.

DFB president Reinhard Grindel supported Low's vision for the future: "I appreciate that Joachim wants to carry on changing the shape of the national side. Making personnel changes at the start of the qualifying phase for EURO 2020 is the right time."

The sweeping changes will open the door for burgeoning talent, with Kai Havertz of Bayer Leverkusen potentially to be given a starring role.

The 19-year-old would add versatility in attack and has impressed in the Bundesliga this season.

Paris Saint-Germain defender Thilo Kehrer could also benefit from Low's decision. The 22-year-old joined the French champions from Schalke 04 in the summer and made his Germany debut in 2018.