Three ways Germany can keep improving ahead of the Romania clash

With Bayern Munich on break, let’s take a look at how to keep Germany firing in the right direction...

Germany’s 3-0 win over Iceland represented a fresh start for Die Mannschaft.

Now, with one win under its belt, Germany has the task of establishing some momentum as it travels to Bucharest for a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Romania.

Here are three keys for Germany to focus on for the match:

Keep building on the midfield dominance

We saw Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Ilkay Gundogan thoroughly decimate Iceland and own the game in the midfield. Obviously, there is at least some pressure on Joachim Löw to give each member of that trio some rest, but in order to ensure his squad does not experience a slip-up, Löw will probably still lean heavily on that midfield unit.

With the ability to control the offensive tempo and defensive stability, Germany’s current top-three in the midfield is absolutely vital.

Hopefully Goretzka is healthy enough to play, but if there is any doubt, Löw will likely hold him out.

Continue to use the forwards fluidly

Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry, and Kai Havertz played interchangeably to great success against Iceland. Typically, it takes a remarkable amount of comfort and experience for three forwards to play in such a manner. Can that style continue? More, can it work for extended periods with different players weaved in.

With no out-and-out striker in the lineup, Germany has to think, play, and react in a different manner offensively. Against Iceland, this worked very well, but will it be a sustainable strategy?

Perhaps, but Germany will need more game time and the ability to weave in different players or this work on a consistent basis. Die Mannschaft won’t lack in foot speed with Sane, Havertz, Gnabry, and Timo Werner as the four current options for the front line. Can they continue to evolve as a unit and develop even more cohesion? That will be a key theme over the next two games.

Limit defensive lapses

Iceland might not have posed much of a threat, but Germany handled everything that came its way. While some Germany fans are yearning for dive-bombing full-backs to provide an Alphonso Davies-like presence, this backline just needs to stay within itself and play to its strengths.

The worst thing a defensive unit can do is try to be something that it is not. Against Iceland, Germany’s defenders played conservatively and smart (well, for the most part). If they keep doing that and avoid mental lapses, this could be an effective group (even with Niklas Süle).