MARTIN O'Neill has called on his players to deliver a strong performance against the World Champions in tonight’s Euro 2016 qualifier in Gelsenkirchen.
The Ireland manager encouraged his team to challenge the hosts on home soil, and believes that any footballer with ambitions of reaching the top of their game should be relishing the chance to take on the Germans.
"I think that this is genuinely where any player worth their salt wants to be," said O’Neill.
"Obviously we're delighted to be here but more important than just being here, we want to go and perform.
"It's a great occasion. Not only for the younger players but for the senior players as well, to be playing against some fantastic footballers, to be competing at the same level and trying to get something out of a game.
“That should excite you as well. From my own viewpoint, I'm delighted even to be involved.”
O’Neill added that Ireland will be hoping to capitalise on the upset that Germany endured after losing 2-0 to Poland in their qualifying encounter over the weekend.
“They’ll be formidable opponents but I hope our mind-set is exactly the same as Saturday," he said.
“The approach will be different in the sense that at home to Gibraltar we had to attack from the first minute of the game. Germany won’t allow us the same space – we’ll encounter many different problems.
“They are World Champions and have a habit of winning but we’re very confident.”
Tonight’s match will also mark John O’Shea’s 100th appearance for Ireland, and the landmark is set to be recognised by the FAI.
The 33-year-old Sunderland defender will become the sixth Irishman to reach the milestone if he is selected by O’Neill, and he will follow in the footsteps of Robbie Keane, Shay Given, Kevin Kilbane, Steve Staunton and Damien Duff.
