Joachim Low may be the least comfortable World Cup winning manager ever seen. Since he guided Germany to an expected but brilliant success in Brazil last summer, his side have deteriorated in form.
An entirely unexpected loss to Poland and a draw to Iceland in the European qualifiers doesn't bode well for their encounter with Georgia on Sunday, even if it the odds are in their favour.
Australia couldn't take points off Germany but certainly took some pride away from the World Champions, drawing 2-2 on Wednesday night.
Georgia will be playing competitively under Kakhaber Tskhadadze for the first time after he replaced Temuri Ketsbaia in December.
Yet assistant manager of Germany, Thomas Schneider, is refusing to take the opposition lightly given the 'tight spot' Germany find themselves in. "The team knows what they have to do. We didn't pick up enough points in the autumn and therefore we're in a bit of a tight spot."
"Georgia won't sit back and we're convinced that they'll be attacking," Schneider said. "It'll be similar to the games against Ireland and Gibraltar as time goes on. But we're well prepared and we can't afford to slip up."
Georgia sit second bottom in the group, help up only by *, having won just one of their 4 qualifiers so far. Although they did beat Malta 2-0 resoundingly on Wednesday night.
Low was adamant that only three points would do in Tbilisi: "Three points are compulsory in Georgia,"
Meanwhile, Mario Gotze, who scored the World Cup Final winning goal, said "We've got to do better". His claims were echoed by former Borussia Dortmund teammate, Ilkay Gundogan, "There's clear for improvement," he said.
Germany are without Holger Badstuber, who has a muscle problem, and Karim Bellarabi who is down with an illness.
Manuel Neuer is expected to return after a minor knee problem kept him out of the game against the Socceroos.
Drawing in Australia only came without Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller, Toni Kroos and Mats Hummels as well who were unused substitutes. All 4 are set to return to the starting XI alongside Manuel Neuer.
A win for Georgia would of course spark outrage amongst the footballing world who would feel lied to should the World Champions fall to such a low, but the minnows of Kakhaber Tskhadadze could replicate the Polish feat. They host a Germany side determine to right multiple wrongs and who should therefore sweep away inferior opposition. The footballing Gods could spur on a famous Georgia win but the majority will feel differently and the German fans should be in for a goalfest if Joachim Low can get his stars performing again.