Match Focus: Improving Ireland Upset the Odds to Frustrate Faltering Germany

For John O’Shea and Ireland, it was a “special night”. For Germany, it was the culmination of a frustrating opening to these qualifiers that left manager Jogi Loew talking about a “post-World Cup hole”.

The sides' surprising 1-1 draw in Gelsenkirchen leaves Ireland joint top of Euro 2016 Group D on seven points, and Germany fourth on just four.

That is the situation right now, even if it is likely to change. More important, however is the manner of it all. For Ireland, O’Shea’s superbly-taken stoppage-time equaliser - on the occasion of his 100th international cap - reminded of the old spirit that hasn’t been seen in such games from the team in some time. For Germany, the problems that led to the side conceding that kind of untypical late goal pointed to potential future issues far removed from the fearsomeness of the World Cup.

Consider the broader stats from this draw. O’Shea’s strike represented the first time Ireland had hit a late goal of consequence against a side they were actually in competition with since the 1-1 draw away to Italy in April 2009.

It also ensured this was the first time Germany dropped points in successive competitive matches since late 2007, when their first place in a qualification group for Euro 2008 - which also included Ireland - was already secured. Before that, it was 2001.

So, there are two big questions from this match. Have Ireland recovered their old competitive spirit, to finally leave the limp drabness of the past few years behind? Is it true Germany are actually suffering a transition from their World Cup best, or is this something temporary?

One thing is certain: the sharpness of Ireland’s defending minimised the effect of German toothless attacking superbly in this game. Beyond one slack moment of marking for Toni Kroos’ strike, it could be said Martin O’Neill’s game plan worked superbly.

Germany worked the ball into the Irish box less than against either Poland or Scotland, and were restricted to fewer shots, with a greater proportion of those shots long-range efforts.

O’Neill’s side also claimed more of the ball than either the Poles or Scots, and forced Germany into more errors in possession.

The Irish themselves put themselves about so much better than in Giovanni Trapattoni’s own last game against the Germans, the 6-1 defeat in Dublin back in October 2012, making more tackles (17 to 12) and more fouls (10 to 9).

Clearly, Ireland are applying themselves in the competitive manner more akin to Trapattoni’s peak around 2009. That will obviously make them more awkward opponents, just like the team that went unbeaten through the 2002 and 2010 World Cup qualifiers. Germany, however, are offering nowhere near the penetration of their own peak during Brazil 2014.

Much of that may be down to the loss of so many key players - from those who have retired such as Phillip Lahm to those just out injured such as Mesut Ozil - but it must be kept in mind that they are facing notionally inferior opposition too.

Compare the broad attacking stats from their first three games of this campaign to the seven in Brazil. Despite much greater possession, Germany are playing fewer through balls and thereby managing fewer shots inside the six-yard box, ultimately resorting to more long-range efforts. It is as if they've run out of ideas.

Germany seem to now be encountering the same problem that Spain had after Euro 2008. Inferior sides realise that, in order to have any chance of beating them, you have to sit back as deep as possible and merely frustrate.

So far, it has worked, at least for Poland and Ireland. Scotland could also gain heart from their 2-1 defeat to Germany. The full truth will come once some of Loew's best players return. Right now, however, the reality is they have to get themselves out of a bit of a hole.

Ireland, meanwhile, were lifted to a level they haven’t enjoyed for a few years.

Can Ireland secure automatic qualification to Euro 2016 and what is going wrong for Germany? Let us know in the comments below