Important European qualifiers for S04 players

Several S04 players will be in action with their respective national teams in the first international break of 2015.

Höwedes and Germany will face Georgia on Sunday (29.03.) as they attempt to secure a place at the 2016 European Championship in France. The reigning World Champions are aiming to come away with three points from Tbilisi to improve their current position in Group D. Germany have taken seven points from four games and are third in the table, three points behind group leaders Poland. Ireland, currently in second place, also have seven points. Germany will face Australia in a friendly on Wednesday (25.03), ahead of the crucial match against Georgia. 

“World Champions against Asian Cup Champions – that’s a fantastic clash to start 2015. The game against Australia provides us with a welcome opportunity to warm up ahead of the important game in Tbilisi against Georgia,” explained Germany manager Joachim Löw. 

Huntelaar and the Netherlands will come up against Turkey on Saturday (28.03.). Having only taken six points from four games, the team are in a tricky position because the Czech Republic, current group leaders, have won all their games so far and second-place Iceland have more points and a better goal difference. The Schalke striker can look forward to a top-class encounter against the reigning European Champions. The Netherlands will face Spain on Tuesday (31.03.). Both the Spain and Turkey games will take place in Amsterdam. 

Fuchs and his Austrian teammates are on track to qualify for the next stage of the European Championship. The team has taken ten points from four games and will hope to add another three to their tally when they face Liechtenstein on Friday (27.03). The team will pit themselves against World Cup participants Bosnia and Herzegovina in Vienna four days later. The likelihood of qualifying for the European Championship currently doesn’t look great for Nastasic. Serbia have only collected one point from a possible nine and must beat Portugal on Sunday (29.03) to stand a chance of progressing. 

Leroy Sane, along with U19 captain Thilo Kehrer, has been included in the Germany U19 squad for the Elite Round of the UEFA European U19 Championship. The team will face Slovakia, Ireland and the Czech Republic.