体坛英语新闻：News Analysis: Germany beaten through the back door

BERLIN, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Germany's head coach Joachim Loew is not superstitious. However the 2014 World Cup winner will have had at least a few strange feelings when returning to the Polish capital Warsaw to face Germany's second Euro 2016 qualifier.

In 2012, Loew had to endure his darkest hours after losing the Euro 2012 semifinal against Italy 2-1. It was his low point as Germany's national coach. Losing his second qualifier since 2008 (3-0 to the Czech Republic) to Poland 2-0 (0-0) on Saturday night means Loew is in trouble again. It was Poland's first ever victory over Germany in their 19th encounter.

Next up in the qualifying group for the Germans on Tuesday is the lionhearted Irish team. After their win, Germany strongest group opponent Poland now leads group D ahead of Ireland. Germany has dropped to third and will need a win in three day's time as only two team make it to France. Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax Amsterdam/51st min) and Sebastian Mila (Slask Wroclaw/88th) scored the goals for Poland as Germany failed to convert its many chances and gave Poland too much space and too many scoring opportunities.

The thing that Germany left unbeaten at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil seems to be their biggest problem on the road to Europe's major tournament in two years' time in France.

In Brazil, Germany's defense was the key to success as the team only conceded four goals - like their opponents in the final, Argentina. Since Philipp Lahm's (Bayern Munich) retirement, Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) is not fully fit after injury and Loew is searching for his ideal post World Cup defensive line-up.

As Loew is sticking to a four-man back line, he is desperately looking for suitable right and left side defenders. After Sebastian Rudy (TSG Hoffenheim) played on the right against Scotland (2-1) in the first Euro 2016 qualifier, Loew's now tested Antonio Ruediger (VfB Stuttgart) on the right and Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund) on the left.

A back-line of three does not seem a sensible option for the German team despite it is becoming ever more popular in modern football. German champions Bayern Munich use a three-man defensive line-up.

But Loew fears the risky option as his defenders would have to face too many one-on-one situations. Tall defenders (many of the German defenders like Hummels and Boateng are tall) could face problems against quick strikers. The defeat in Poland again showed the magnitude of the German team's problems when they have to defend after being on the attack.

Without appropriate defenders for the right or left, the German game lacked speed down the flanks. In order to dominate opponents parking the bus, it is vital to have pace on the wings. What makes Loews problems bigger is the fact that two key players of his World Cup winning team - keeper Manuel Neuer and Boateng - didn't do well when Poland scored its goals.

Loew had to go into the tough Poland game without his leaders Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Mesut Oezil (FC Arsenal) and Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund). The defeat of the group favorites was a big surprise as Germany was on top in many of the game's statistics. 28-5 shoots on target spoke for Germany as well as the ball-possession figures: Germany: 67%, Poland: 33%. Germany still has problems to act with a "false nine" (Thomas Mueller) after central striker Miroslav Klose retired and Mario Gomez is injured.

Loew said after the defeat that he will not find many candidates in the German Bundesliga to solve his problems on the left and right.

"We have to find a solution," Loew said. "Our biggest problem in Warsaw was that we did not take our chances. In parts, it looked like a power-play. Poland was waiting to counter-attack as we were dominating the game," added a highly frustrated Loew who - at least that night - could not find answers to his teams problems.