The Germans are still bleary-eyed and they ’ ve just rolled out of bed to see the World Cup trophy knocked over on the floor , sticky with spillages from last night ’ s steins . A sharp pain is spreading from temple to temple ; the tongue is dry , throat coarse . There is a sick , dull feeling in the pit of the stomach from a 4am kebab . As hangovers go , World Cup ones can be the worst . Three wins from their seven games since Mario Gotze scored in stoppage time against Argentina to lift football ’ s greatest prize - two of those against against Scotland and Gibraltar - and this one is proving particularly hard to shake off . Germany have struggled for results following their 2014 World Cup victory last summer . Mario Gotze scores the winning goal for Germany against Argentina to hand Germany their fourth World Cup . Germany 2-4 Argentina ( friendly ) Germany 2-1 Scotland ( Euro 2016 qualifier ) Poland 2-0 Germany ( Euro 2016 qualifier ) Germany 1-1 Ireland ( Euro 2016 qualifier ) Germany 4-0 Gibraltar ( Euro 2016 qualifier ) Spain 0-1 Germany ( friendly ) Germany 2-2 Australia ( friendly ) They have not been helped by the loss of influential captain Philipp Lahm through retirement , or that his successor to the armband Bastian Schweinsteiger , another key figure in Brazil 2014 , has been out injured since . His return to the squad for their draw with Australia , through which he sat on the bench , and the Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia , has been welcomed by manager Joachim Low . ‘ We need him on the field and outside as well , ’ Low said . ‘ It 's a great benefit for us to have him back. ’ He could be the strong coffee they need to wake up after defeat by Poland and a draw with Ireland in their group means , on current form , they are heading towards disaster , admittedly still a long way in the distance . Germany have not been helped by the loss of influential captain Philipp Lahm through retirement . Bayern Munich star Thomas Muller is one of the few Germany players to maintain his fine form . Thomas Muller has continued where he left off , their five-goal World Cup top scorer netting four times since , but he is one of the few to maintain last summer ’ s form . He is clearly one of those annoying people who get up after the night before and are out of the house before anyone else is awake . The Germans have prided themselves on bringing through youngsters and Low has handed 74 players their debuts since he took over in 2006 , during which time he led them to runner-up in Euro 2008 , third in the 2010 World Cup and also to the semi-finals of Euro 2012 . Yet in their most recent squad he named 16 of the side who featured in the World Cup and invited no newcomers . Low has already been backed beyond France 2016 to stay in charge until after the 2018 World Cup in Russia , and is adamant they can build on their achievements . ‘ It was a decision where my heart and my mind both said yes , ’ Low said , on signing a new contract earlier this month . Argentina claimed revenge on the World Cup winners with a 4-2 friendly victory in September last year . Germany have been desperate for the return of captain Bastian Schweinsteiger ( left ) Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been brought back into fold following 14 months out with a back injury . Germany boss Joachim Low ( centre ) is adamant his side can build on their achievements . ( Left to right ) Schweinsteiger , Muller , Manuel Neuer , Toni Kroos and Roman Weidenfeller were on the bench for Germany during the 2-2 draw against Australia on Wednesday night . ‘ We waited a long time for the success that we had in Brazil and we all want to experience that again . We have the prerequisites to achieve it once more. ’ His assistant Thomas Schneider and goalkeeping coach Andreas Kopke have also extended their stay with him . The main additions Low has made to the squad are those returning from long-term injuries . Midfielder Ilkay Gundogan has been brought back into fold following 14 months out with a back injury . Defender Holger Badstuber missed two years with consecutive knee injuries and has returned . So too midfielder Marco Reus after his ankle ligament tear ruled him out of playing in Brazil . Germany suffered a 2-0 defeat by Poland in their Euro 2016 Group D match last October . Australia players celebrate during their 2-2 international friendly draw against Germany on Wednesday . Low has been experimenting in recent months . Against Australia , he tried a three-man defence of Benedikt Howedes , Shkodran Mustafi and Badstuber , who had not played together before and clearly struggled . Lahm , one of the best full backs and defensive midfielders in the game , was always going to be difficult to replace , and that will be a key test for Low . If the World Cup last summer is still looking a little fuzzy for Germany , the future is far from clear either . Muller celebrates his goal against Scotland during a rare victory for his side since the World Cup .
Germany have won just three games since 2016 World Cup success . Joachim Low 's side were poor in their 2-2 draw with Australia . World Cup winners suffered defeats against Argentina and Poland . Germany have had to cope with the retirement of Philipp Lahm . Bastian Schweinsteiger is only just returning from injury .