Seamus Coleman out of Germany clash; expected to be available against Poland

“Seamus had a day off because he has worked exceptionally hard for the last couple of days and done very well indeed”, O’Neill explained. Of all the intrigue which abounds perhaps it is Group D which interests to the highest degree.

“There are a few good players in that squad and I’ve had to bide my time and wait for an opportunity”, said the 26-year-old.

“The Germans are very, very good, I don’t necessarily go into every single stat, but I think they enjoyed nearly 400 more passes than Scotland had in the game and Scotland were playing at home”. This would not only stop the likes of O’Neill or Keane deciding a player is (probably) fit, it would also reduce the number of worthless friendlies. The revised squad includes two uncapped players, Eunan O’Kane and Alan Judge, while three players – Stephen Quinn (knee), Harry Arter (groin) and Ciaran Clark (quad) – have been ruled out because of injury.

The sole victory came in Hanover in the run up to the 1994 World Cup.

With two games left for Ireland in Euro 2016 qualification, the table looks like this ahead of their matches with Germany and Poland.

Italy and Portugal are among the other big names close to qualifying, while both Wales and Northern Ireland are on the verge of reaching a European Championship final for the first time.

The bad news is that the match in question is against world champions Germany.

The Germans are bracing themselves against Martin O’Neil’s Irish, who earned a point with a 90th-minute equaliser to seal a 1-1 draw in Gelsenkirchen last October.

Meanwhile Low does not believe that Ireland will be lacking for incentive to and dismissed a suggestion that Martin O’Neill might have to call on the memory of 2012’s 6-1 defeat to the Germany to gee his side up. But Shane Long, who provided vital impetus against Georgia last month when introduced, is expected to lead the line.

How quickly football moves.

The Scots’ hopes of qualification are now out of their hands going into the last round of Group D matches.

What this means is simple: they like wearing out the opposition and negating them for most of the game.

A draw in the game in the Aviva will qualify Germany for France 2016 and would set up Ireland for at least a play-off spot if they can beat Poland on Sunday.

Loew’s men will qualify for next summer’s finals with a win or a draw in Dublin, and could also book their place should Scotland beat Poland in Hampden Park. Any ties that can not be separated after 90 minutes of the second leg will be decided upon by away goals and then penalties. Their away record in the section reads W2 D1 L1.

Bournemouth midfielder Eunan O’Kane and Brentford counterpart Alan Judge have been included as uncapped players, but there is no place for Everton’s Darron Gibson as he continues his recovery from a knee injury suffered in preseason.