|
BERLIN, March 19-- Optimism is growing in German football having to face the challenge to qualify for the 2020 European Championships with a newly formed team. Young faces from now on will have to carry the 2017 World Champions expectations to return to the world's best after an early exit at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and demotion in the Nations League. Germany dropped back to position 16 in the newest FIFA ranking of nations which is the country's lowest position since 2005. While pundits such as the former German national coach Juergen Klinsmann and 150 times capped Lothar Matthaeus see the team of current coach Joachim Loew on a stony path several performers of the new generation expressed their confidence. "German football has hit rock bottom," the 108 capped Klinsmann emphasized. "There is a reason to be concerned," the former Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspurs striker said. Loew recently decided to no longer consider experienced forces like the 2017 World Champions Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, and Thomas Mueller. The 59-year-old is under fire after his surprising announcement and needs to develop new leaders shortly to ease the tension. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), midfielder Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) and defender Matthias Ginter (Moenchengladbach) are the only survivals of Germany's victorious Brazil squad. "We have many characters that can make it," commented Bayer Leverkusen forward Julian Brandt talking about the squad's uncertain future. Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka said the omitted trio is leaving "a gap behind, but we have to fill the gap, and we are ambitious enough to do a good job on that." | 
