Germany vs San Marino - Low: Confederations Cup is not about results

Posted Friday, June 09, 2017 by PA

Joachim Low says he will not be worried about Germany's results in the upcoming Confederations Cup in Russia.

Low's side host San Marino in a World Cup qualifier in Nuremberg on Saturday before they get their Confederations Cup campaign under way nine days later against Australia.

Germany's squad for the eight-team tournament is shorn of star names like Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels, Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos and Thomas Muller as Low gives a clutch of younger names the chance to gain tournament experience a year out from the defence of their World Cup crown.

The team to face San Marino in the Group C clash will feature Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal and Hoffenheim's Sandro Wagner up front, while Paris St Germain's Julian Draxler will captain the side if fit.

"I'm looking forward to the Confed Cup," Low, whose side are also in the same group as Chile and Cameroon at the tournament, said at a press conference.

"The tournament is a welcome change. But for me the tournament is not about results, rather we want to help players to reach a higher international level.

"For some players this Confed Cup will likely be important in one or two years.

"I am happy if two, three, four players develop the way I have imagined - quite independent of results.

"We should not only think from match to match - we and the young players can benefit from the Confed Cup in one, two years."

Low admits his focus has not been firmly on Saturday's opponents San Marino, whom Germany have beaten by an aggregate score of 27-0 in their previous three meetings, including an 8-0 win in the away fixture back in November.

"We will not prepare the team, as we normally do, intensively for San Marino," Low said.

"With all due respect to San Marino, it is only about our game plan and not about how San Marino will play.

"We want to push San Marino back, play on the offensive and score goals.

"But in the next week we will have to concentrate on other things, because at the Confed Cup a whole different level will be waiting for us."

Low ruled out a repeat of their record 13-0 win over San Marino from 2006, saying it was "not realistic", as his side look to make it six wins out of six in their qualifying pool.

They already hold a five-point lead over Northern Ireland at the top of the group.