The Republic of Ireland are preparing to host the might of Germany in what seems like an impossible task for the side. How can Ireland go about trying to beat Germany?
Press the Ball
Ireland are going to spend long spells of this match without possession and they need to press the ball at the right time. If they don’t time this aspect of their tactics off the ball well, then it will result in some very tired Irish players by the end of the match and that could lead to a disastrous score with Germany nicking one or two extra late goals. It’s all about conserving energy and then using it at the right time.
Strong Defensive Line
Ireland need to keep a strong defensive line throughout the match because there will be spells of five minutes or maybe even ten minutes where they cannot get out of their own half. What this means is that the centre backs need to stay close together and the full backs need to tuck in when Germany have the ball in the middle and switch wider when they have it wider. The defensive line has to stay straight and compact even when they are desired to shift to the left or right.
Take Chances
The Republic of Ireland may only have one or two really good chances to score a goal throughout the game. Therefore, it’s very important that they take these chances to get a score on the board for the team. Shane Long is one player who will be under heavy pressure to score and he will need to use his pace to exploit a German defence which is going to be way up the field for long spells of the match.
The Midfield Battle
The midfield battle will be difficult for Ireland to win because there is so much German talent and experience in the side through the likes of Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira. What Ireland need to do is make their presence known, even if they are chasing the ball half the time, Ireland need to make sure that Germany know the slightest mistake will mean a loss of possession and having to start all over again in terms of building the pressure.
The Support
The support of the Irish fans needs to stay loud and it needs to stay constant. The players are going to get tired as the second half drags on because they are bound to be chasing the ball and maybe even the game. It will be a lot easier for the Irish side to lift themselves if they have the support of the crowd because any hostility due to the performance could cause a few heads to drop in the Irish team.
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