Germany vs Azerbaijan - Joachim Low has 'immense hunger' to keep winning

Posted Saturday, October 07, 2017 by PA

Joachim Low is targeting the rare prize of 10 wins from 10 World Cup qualifying games when Germany close their impressive campaign against Azerbaijan in Kaiserslautern.

Die Mannschaft won 3-1 in Northern Ireland to rubber-stamp their qualification for Russia 2018, where they will defend the trophy they won in Brazil at the expense of Argentina.

Despite their dominance on the world stage over the last 60 years, Germany have only twice before enjoyed 100 per cent success in qualification, before the 1982 World Cup and heading to Euro 2012.

Any thoughts of easing off following Thursday's hard-fought victory in Belfast have been banished as head coach Low seeks to satisfy his "immense hunger" to keep winning football matches.

"I found it remarkable how the team were willing to work hard from the start in Northern Ireland and quickly snap the lock," he told a press conference published on dfb.de.

"On the other hand, qualification is not yet over, we want to win the 10th game against Azerbaijan too.

"That must be the goal tomorrow."

Low will tinker slightly with his team, offering Emre Can and Leroy Sane opportunities to impress from the start, while Bayer Leverkusen's Bernd Leno will get the nod in goal.

On next year's mission to Moscow, he added: "In Brazil, we won the tournament as a team.

"We must get that spirit back. We must have an immense hunger to win it again.

"It will be incredibly hard, that much is clear. As the world champions we're the only ones with something to lose, so that's a difficult position to start from."

Even though Germany have plundered 38 goals on the road to Russia, conceding only three, Azerbaijan are unlikely to roll over at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion.

The South Caucasus nation boast 10 points having won three games and their position of second-bottom above San Marino is perhaps misleading.

Two days ago they were beaten 2-1 at home by the Czech Republic.

On Saturday Germany also presented the official logo of their application to host Euro 2024.

The 1988 tournament was held in West Germany and Low, who took charge after his nation hosted the World Cup 11 years ago, hopes he can now experience matches in places like Berlin and Leipzig.

"We want to invite all of Europe to Germany which was already a cosmopolitan host in 2006," said the 57-year-old from Schonau after the application's spherical black, red and yellow logo was unveiled.

"The whole of Germany is behind this application, and the national team of course want to play a European Championship in their own country."

Turkey are the only other confirmed bidders, with the winner scheduled to be named next September.