Germany v Russia - Preview and possible lineups

TEAM NEWS: 

Germany:

In a very much 'new look' Germany squad, a host of experienced names will not feature against Russia on Thursday. Manager Joachim Löw has been under increasing pressure to 'give youth a chance', and as such, he has made a number of controversial call ups this month. 

Experienced stars Jerome Boateng and Marc Andre Ter Stegen have both been omitted from the camp, with Löw explaining that the former needs to work on his fitness, while the latter has been left out in favour of Arsenal's Bernd Leno. 

More youthful faces have been called up by Löw; Thilo Kehrer, Jonathan Tah, and Nico Schulz all feature, as well as surprise inclusion, 19 year old Leverkusen starlet Kai Havertz. 

Various other stars are will be missing due to withdrawal for individual reasons. For example,  Marco Reus will be absent for this clash, as the Borussia Dortmund captain is still suffering from a bruised foot sustained against Bayern Munich at the weekend. 

'Die Mannschaft' will also have make do with the absence of midfielder Julian Draxler and striker Mark Uth, as both have withdrawn from this clash due to a family bereavement and injury respectively.

Nevertheless, Joachim Löw will hope that whatever team he fields can get a positive result, ahead of the crucial Nations League clash with the Netherlands on Monday. 

Russia:

Manager Stanislav Cherchesov has a similar selection headache ahead of his side's trip to Leipzig, with Russia's squad considerably depleted in the weeks before this fixture. 

Key man Denis Cheryshev is a doubt with a muscle injury, while play maker  Ilzat Akhmetov is a definite absentee with a shoulder injury.  Another pivotal player, Aleksandr Golovin is expected to miss out with a sprained ankle, while Captain Artem Dzyuba is battling to recover from a knee issue. 

Then, to add insult to the many injuries, another defender, Andrey Semenov, is suspended.

Russia were one of the surprise teams on home soil during the summer, as they reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.  The fledgling side have since gone from strength to strength, and will hope to continue their great progress in this month's fixtures.

PRE-MATCH MUSINGS:

Joachim Low on Nations League hopes and opponents Russia:

"If we get relegated (from the Nations League) then so be it - we have to accept that. Our focus will then turn to the EURO 2020 qualifiers."

"They're at a level similar to 2008 again. They're a very disciplined side, very aggressive in defence and dangerous on the counter. The coach's influence on the team is clear to see."

Stanislav Cherchesov on team selection headaches and facing Germany:

"Of course, it is not ideal. But professional football is not without injury. Now there are a lot of them, but what is, that is. We can not change anything and proceed from the one who is now at our disposal."

"Yes, we see what happens to the opponent. Today they wrote that they had one striker injured (Mark Uth). We know the way of the German national team. Of course, we collect information, analyze their games. "

"The weather in Leipzig is better than in Moscow, so in this regard it will be easier for us."

FORM: 

DID YOU KNOW?

In the five previous match ups between Germany and Russia; 'Die Mannschaft' boast a dominant record, winning four and drawing one.

Germany's biggest victory against Russia came courtesy of Jurgen Klinnsman, who scored a brace and assisted the other, in a 3-0 win at EURO 1996. 

Russia have only ever scored three times against Germany; 2 goals came in their only draw with 'Die Mannschaft' in 2005, while the other came in a narrow 2-1 defeat in 2008 during World Cup qualifying.

POSSIBLE LINEUPS:

Germany:Trapp; Ginter, Tah, Rudiger, Kehrer; Rudy, Goretzka, Brandt, Havertz, Sane; Werner. 

Russia: Guilherme; Fernandes, Neustadter, Dzhikiya, Kudryashov; Gazinskiy, Zobnin, Ionov, Kuzyayev, Yerokhin; Zabolotny