GERMANY’S MATS HUMMELS has said his side’s 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Gelsenkirchen last night ‘feels like a defeat’.
Speaking to bundesliga.com, the centre-back admitted that the German performance wasn’t to the standard expected by anyone associated with the team.
“It’s not good enough. It’s not the standard people expect from us and it’s not the standard we set for ourselves”
Despite a dominant display, the world champions struggled to create clear-cut opportunities – much like their previous group game against Poland last weekend. But with Toni Kroos having given Germany the lead with less than twenty minutes left, it was widely expected that the hosts would see the game out and maybe even add another as Ireland pushed forward in search of an equaliser. Instead, John O’Shea’s last-gasp leveller ensured Germany were left to dissect another worrying result.
“It feels like a defeat to be honest. Leading in that position and then conceding a goal so late is really tough.”
But Ireland didn’t come here to play football, and we knew that. They came here to be hard to beat, and when you’re up against ten players that are well-organised, looking to defend and know their tactical roles, then it’s tough.”
Germany are still expected to finish on top of the group come the qualification campaign’s conclusion but having dropped five points from two games, they find themselves fourth in the table and must deal with plenty of criticism and pressure in the coming weeks and months though Hummels admits that always goes with the territory.
“We were the better team in both of these games and didn’t play badly, but we haven’t got the results. There’s obviously more pressure on us now, but we’re used to that.”
Next up for Germany is a home clash with Gibraltar on 14th November.
