Joachim Low has lept to the defence of the misfiring Marco Reus and likened his Germany side to a boxer without their knockout factor at the moment.
The world champions completed their Euro 2016 qualification campaign with a labourous 2-1 win at home to Georgia last night as Low's men finished top of Group D, one point clear of Poland and four ahead of the Republic of Ireland in third.
Reus, whose last goal for Borussia Dortmund came in August, missed two one-on-ones against the Georgians, but the Germany boss is convinced that it is merely a blip.
"Marco is usually an excellent player, who will not miss such opportunities," he told reporters.
"He has a lot of quality, but he has not taken two or three big chances. Again in this game we have not taken the variety of opportunities we created.
"We are like a boxer at the moment. We are landing punches but they are not knocking the opponent out."
Thomas Muller broke the deadlock on 50 minutes from the penalty spot, with Jaba Kankava levelling up shortly after, but Max Kruse sealed the narrow win by scoring in the final quarter.
Shane Callaghan
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