Pole position

Germany aims to become the first team to qualify for the UEFA 2012 European Championships by beating Austria in Gelsenkirchen on Friday. Joachim Löw's side has won seven games out of seven so far in Group A, and victory over their neighbors this week will see Germany join Poland and the Ukraine - who qualify automatically as tournament hosts - in the pot for the Euro 2012 soccer finals with two group games left to play.

Germany, along with World Cup finalists Holland and reigning European and world champions Spain, are the only teams to have a 100 per cent record in their qualification groups and Löw's team look in great shape to finish the job of qualifying if they can perform as they did in their impressive 3-2 friendly defeat of Brazil on August 10.

"We just need to take the final step," said Löw. "We've earned 21 points in seven qualifying games and we've almost qualified for the European Championship. That wasn't expected straight after the World Cup success."

"Obviously our starting position is very good but we're not through yet," he added. "So we want to make sure we're through with a win against Austria so as to start planning for the Euros."

Back on the field

Löw will be able to field an even stronger side than that which beat Brazil in a friendly in Stuttgart, with Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Özil back in the team after being rested for the Brazil game. Per Mertesacker, who transferred to Arsenal from Werder Bremen this week, and Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Schmelzer also return after recovering from injuries.

The German coach was happy to welcome back Mertesacker, who earned the last of his 75 caps back in March during the 4-0 win over Kazakhstan in Kaiserslautern. "We feel great about Per's return to the team, and the fact that he's healthy," said Löw.

Özil's Real team-mate Sami Khedira, however, is still struggling with a groin injury and will miss the Austria game and the following match against Poland in Gdansk on September 6. Löw is expected to keep faith in Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos, who deputized impressively for the Real Madrid player against Brazil.

Also missing from the squad is Mario Gomez, who scored all the goals in Bayern Munich's 3-0 cakewalk win at Kaiserslautern, but pulled out with a strained thigh. Löw called in Stuttgart's Cacau to replace him, though he's made it clear Miroslav Klose will get the start.

Austria's long shot

Austria coach Dietmar Constantini has recalled Werder Bremen's controversial striker Marko Arnautovic after dropping him over his lack of form and the personal problems he was experiencing at his Bundesliga club.

The 22-year-old has rediscovered both his touch and his positive attitude, and has scored in successive Bundesliga games for Bremen. His club coach Thomas Schaaf reported back to Constantini about the player's development, praising him enough to convince Constantini to include him in the Austria team for the Germany game.

Austria will need Arnautovic, who is their top scorer in qualifying, to maintain that form, since they have not beaten Germany in their last six meetings. They came close in the corresponding Euro 2012 fixture in June, but fell to defeat thanks to a last-minute Gomez winner.

"We did well in that match and will try to repeat that performance,'' Constantini said. "Nobody expects us to get a result there, but surprises in soccer happen now and then.''

After playing Austria and Poland, Germany face Turkey and Belgium in their last two games in October. Austria round off their qualifying campaign against Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.

Author: Nick Amies
Editor: Andreas Illmer