Germany will be looking to move above Armenia to the top of Group J when the two teams lock horns in their World Cup 2022 qualification section on Sunday night.
Hansi Flick‘s side will enter the match off the back of a 2-0 success over Liechtenstein on Thursday, while Armenia were held to a goalless draw by North Macedonia on the same night.
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Flick’s first game in charge of Germany ended in a 2-0 win over Liechtenstein on Thursday evening, with Timo Werner and Leroy Sane scoring the goals for the Germans, who had 29 shots against the minnows but found it difficult to convert their domination into goals.
Die Mannschaft, who have won the World Cup on four occasions, were eliminated by England in the round of 16 at Euro 2020 and will therefore be hoping to show improvement at next year’s competition in Qatar.
Germany opened their Group J campaign with back-to-back wins over Iceland and Romania before suffering a shock 2-1 home defeat to North Macedonia at the end of March, which allowed Armenia to move to the top of the section – a further indication of the importance of Sunday’s contest.
Thursday’s victory over Liechtenstein was important for Flick’s team, but a disappointing result this weekend would allow Armenia to move further clear, while it would also open the door for North Macedonia and Romania, in third and fourth respectively, to make ground in the section.
Germany have only actually faced Armenia on three previous occasions and have been victorious in each contest, including a 6-1 win when the two teams last locked horns in a friendly back in June 2014.
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Armenia, as mentioned, will enter Sunday’s contest off the back of a goalless draw with North Macedonia on Thursday; the result followed three straight wins over Liechtenstein, Iceland and Romania in the section, which allowed the nation to move to the top of Group J.
A total of 10 points from four matches has left Armenia at the top of the group, one point clear of second-placed Germany, and the Collective Team are bidding to qualify for their first ever World Cup.
Joaquin Caparros‘s side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Sweden in a friendly at the start of June but have not actually lost a competitive fixture since September 2020, when they were beaten 2-1 by North Macedonia in the UEFA Nations League.
Armenia will certainly believe that they are capable of claiming a top-two spot in this section, while a victory over Germany on Sunday would put them in a strong position at the summit, although there is a lot of football to be played before the qualification campaign is finished.
Germany World Cup Qualifying – Europe form:
Germany form (all competitions):
Armenia World Cup Qualifying – Europe form:
Armenia form (all competitions):
Manuel Neuer was not used against Liechtenstein on Thursday but is expected to return between the sticks here, while Germany boss Flick is likely to make a couple of changes elsewhere.
Indeed, Antonio Rudiger and Leon Goretzka could come into the starting XI, while Serge Gnabry will hope to take the spot of Jamal Musiala, who was included in the side against Liechtenstein.
Sane and Werner were both on the scoresheet last time out and appear to have done enough to keep their spots in the starting team for this key fixture.
Kai Havertz operated in the number 10 position on Thursday and that is again expected to be the case here, with Goretzka potentially coming into the midfield alongside Joshua Kimmich.
As for Armenia, head coach Caparros has no injury concerns from the side that shared the points with North Macedonia on Thursday, meaning that a similar side should take to the field.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is the squad’s captain, most experienced player and leading goalscorer, and the 32-year-old is a certain starter in this match, where he will be looking to add to his 30 international goals.
Elsewhere, there are not expected to be many surprises, with Sargis Adamyan, who plays his club football for Hoffenheim, leading the line, while Tigran Barseghyan should also be in the side despite not featuring against North Macedonia.
Germany possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Baku, Sule, Rudiger, Gosens; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Havertz, Sane; Werner
Armenia possible starting lineup:
Yurchenko; Hambardzumyan, Calisir, Voskanyan, Hovhannisyan; Udo, Grigoryan, Bichakhchyan; Barsaeghyan, Adamyan, Mkhitaryan
Armenia are a strong outfit and will fancy their chances of causing Germany plenty of problems on Sunday night. This could be a really tricky match for the hosts, and we are expecting them to suffer, but it is difficult to predict anything other than a victory for Flick’s team.