Berlin: World Cup winner Germany open their 2016 European Championship qualification campaign against Scotland in Dortmund on Sunday, hopeful of taking the first step towards back-to-back titles. Scotland are arguably fighting out with Poland and Ireland for second place in Group D, though third place would also leave open the prospect of qualification, most likely through a playoff. Ireland play Georgia in Tbilisi and Gibraltar hosts Poland at the Algarve stadium in Portugal, also Sunday. Here are five things to know about the group:
BACK-TO-BACK
Only France and Spain have won a European Championship as reigning World Cup winners, in 2000 and 2012, respectively. Germany are in a good position to repeat that feat, despite the retirements of World Cup-winning captain Philipp Lahm, fellow defender Per Mertesacker and record goal-scorer Miroslav Klose.
Coach Joachim Loew has always made a point of bringing in new players. He handed out 72 debuts in 113 games since he took over in August 2006, so transition should not be a problem.
Germany boast a wealth of young talents pushing established internationals for their places. World Cup hero Mario Goetze is yet to nail down a starting position, Andre Schuerrle has grown used to a substitute role, and Borussia Moenchengladbach midfielder Christoph Kramer has already impressed in a short time.
Loew's greatest challenge is molding the talent at his dispersal into a cohesive unit. He's got two years to get it right again.
INJURIES BITE
Germany's squad has been hit hard by injuries, compounding the loss of the retired Lahm, Mertesacker and Klose.
Loew called up attacking midfielder Sidney Sam on Thursday, in place of Schalke teammate Julian Draxler, who strained his right thigh in Germany's 4-2 friendly loss to Argentina on Wednesday.
Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and Valencia defender Shkodran Mustafi are also out, while Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has an ongoing knee injury.
Thomas Mueller was rested against Argentina and is likely to start on Sunday, and Goetze should be fresh after a substitute role on Wednesday.
GERMAN ALARM
Mertesacker described Argentina's 4-2 win over Germany in Wednesday's friendly as a "wake-up call" and Loew's side will be fully focused and determined to atone with a win against Scotland.
Striker Mario Gomez, who missed three clear chances against Argentina before being jeered by the home fans, will have another chance to win back their trust. Gomez has 25 goals in 60 appearances for Germany but missed the World Cup due to fitness concerns after a long injury layoff.
"Mario had a tough time after his injury and missing out on the World Cup," Marco Reus said on Friday. "He knows what he can do, we know what he can do and the goals will come by themselves at some stage."
Reus also missed the World Cup, due to a foot injury sustained just before the tournament, but the Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder is gradually getting back to his best.
"The most important thing is that I feel well. I was delighted to be back," said Reus, who is counting on vocal support in his hometown stadium. "I'm happy the qualifier is in Dortmund."
STRUGGLING SCOTLAND
Scotland have not been involved at a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France. The country's record against Germany is good, though, with four wins and five draws from 15 games.
However, the Germans have yet to lose in six competitive games to the Scots. Two of those were draws played in Glasgow.
"The Germans come alive when it becomes competitive," said Scotland coach Gordon Strachan, who enjoyed the Germany-Argentina friendly but is braced for a backlash.
"It was a wonderful game to watch from a neutral's point of view but we didn't take anything from it," Strachan said. "When the Germans have to compete, they're a different animal. I can't remember the last time they didn't qualify for anything."
TOP THREE REWARDED
With 24 sides competing at Euro 2016 in France, qualifying is theoretically easier. The second-place finishers in each group all qualify automatically, as does the best third-place side from the nine groups. The other eight third-place teams can qualify through playoffs.
Scotland, Poland and Ireland would be content with second place, possibly even third, from Group D, which is completed by Georgia and Gibraltar.
Poland finished bottom of their group at both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012. Hopes are pinned on captain Jakub Blaszczykowski and former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Robert Lewandowski to lead the side further this time around.
Ireland also had an abject Euro 2012, losing all three games under coach Giovanni Trapattoni. The new coaching setup of Martin O'Neill assisted by former Irish international Roy Keane led to fresh optimism, tough it's tempered by a dearth of talent at top-level clubs.
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