Schmelzer expects fierce Austria test

Germany defender Marcel Schmelzer is expecting an uncomfortable evening in Tuesday's World Cup qualifier against Austria in Vienna.

Joachim Low's side got their World Cup 2014 campaign off to a winning start with an unconvincing 3-0 victory over Faroe Islands on Friday night. The Borussia Dortmund left-back knows Germany must improve if they are to record back-to-back victories. "Austria are a very unpleasant team to face," Schmelzer told the official DFB website. "They are a tough opponent, especially when you take them on in Vienna, and in particular in front of 60,000 home fans at the Ernst Happel Stadium." Schmelzer believes Austria have benefited from their players playing in the top flight in Germany. "Austria have developed into a strong footballing nation again. Eight players from their current team ply their trade in the Bundesliga and are regular starters at their respective clubs. That says a lot about the quality they have in their team," he added.