Waldschmidt puts Germany past Czech Republic

Germany 1-0 Czech Republic
Goals: 1-0 Waldschmidt (13')

With Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig players rested, there were chances to impress for the rest of the Germany squad on Wednesday. Wolfsburg's Ridle Baku and former Augsburg wing-back Philipp Max made their international debuts and it took just 13 minutes for the latter to make his mark on the game. After Florian Neuhaus' shot was parried by Werder Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka, Max latched onto the rebound and fired across goal for Luca Waldschmidt to tap home the opener. Gladbach's Jonas Hofmann was forced off with a hamstring problem after 20 minutes as the hosts continued to enjoy the better of the play. Ilkay Gündogan had a shot blocked before Julian Brandt latched onto a poor pass in the Czech defence, but missed the target from the shot that followed. Nadiem Amiri - who replaced Hofmann - had a double chance before the break after Neuhaus sent him in on goal. His first shot was saved by Pavlenka before Baku found the Leverkusen midfielder in front of goal once again, only for his second shot to be blocked by Pavlenka once more.

Mahmoud Dahoud came on at the break replacing captain on the night Gündogan. Chances were kept to a premium for most of the second half, though, with Neuhaus going closest with a shot dragged wide across goal from his left boot before the hour mark. The best chance of the half came again for Neuhaus as he met a clearance to the edge of the Czech box with a thunderous half-volley back at goal which he had to watch cannon out off the post. Having been kept quiet all half, Kevin Trapp burst into life with less than 10 minutes on the clock to provide a stunning reflex save to deny Zdenek Ondrasek's header from close range. Jonathan Tah forced Pavlenka into action again with a long-range effort as Germany held on to victory ahead of their vital UEFA Nations League games against Ukraine and Spain in the coming week.

• Former Freiburg forward Waldschmidt has now scored two goals in his first five international appearances for Germany.
• Löw's side are now unbeaten in 11 games dating back to September 2019 and earned their first clean sheet since November 2019.
• Germany lead the Czech Republic 17-6 in their all-time head-to-head balance. The Czechs last won in October 2007.
• Germany beat the Czechs 2-1 in the UEFA Euro '96 final, avenging their defeat to Czechoslovakia 20 years earlier. Current national team director Oliver Bierhoff scored both of Germany's goals.
• Germany are 14th in the most recent FIFA World Ranking, 31 places above the Czech Republic.
• Max (PSV) and Baku (Wolfsburg) made their international debuts.
• Czech captain Darida is the most capped player in their squad with 63 senior international appearances to his name.

Germany: Trapp - Tah, Koch, Rüdiger - Baku, Gündogan (c) (Dahoud 46'), Neuhaus, Max (Schulz 69') - Hofmann (Amiri 20'), Brandt - Waldschmidt
Unused subs: Leno, Gosens, Henrichs, Stark, Uduokhai
Out: Baumann, Draxler, Ginter, Gnabry, Goretzka, Kroos, Neuer, Sane, Süle, Werner (all not included), Halstenberg (groin), Kehrer (knock), Kimmich (knee)
Doubtful: -
Coach: Joachim Löw 

Czech Republic: Pavlenka - Mateju, Brabec, Jemelka, Novak (Soucek 46') - Holes - Cerny (Jankto 46'), Barak (Kral 69'), Dockal (c) (Darida 69'), Kopic (Ondrasek 78') - Kremencik (Vydra 46')
Unused subs: Koubek, Mandous, Vaclik, Coufal, Kovorka, Kalas
Out: Boril, Kolar, Kudela, Nguyen, Provod, Sevcik (all not included), Celustka (muscular), Hlozek (knock), Schick (hamstring)
Coach: Jaroslav Silhavy

FULL-TIME!

The whistle blows on this evening's action from Leipzig with victory for Germany. A second win in their last three games which helps extend the current unbeaten run to 10 games. Löw will be very pleased with the performances of his debutants, Baku and Max, while Neuhaus was fantastic throughout in midfield. Onto Ukraine and Spain now for Germany.

90' - ADDED TIME

We'll have two minutes of stoppage time at the end of this game.

89' - TIME TICKING ON

Soucek drags a shot wide with the Czechs going closer and closer to an equaliser. Germany will be looking to make sure no late goal is conceded here once again, as was the case in previous international matches in the last month.

84' - TAH HAS A GO!

Time and space opens up ahead of Tah as he brings the ball into midfield. He winds up a shot from 25 yards which goes straight at Pavlenka but it's an uncomfortable one for him to beat away from his goal.

83' - WHAT A SAVE FROM TRAPP!

Outstanding reflexes from Trapp, who dives to his right with no time at all to respond and parries a header wide of goal. That header came from Ondrasek from just six yards out, and Frankfurt's goalkeeper will be proud of that one.

80' - SHOTS BLOCKED

Germany break once more and Neuhaus is the one who gets a shot away at goal. This one is blocked from close range, but Dahoud gathers the ball and works it to shoot from the edge of the penalty area with his left foot and this effort takes a deflection to go wide.

77' - NEUHAUS SMASHES THE POST!

A free-kick sent into the Czech box is cleared to the edge of the box and Neuhaus is charging on to reach it first. He does, and sends a thunderous half-volley back at goal which Pavlenka can only watch. But it cannons back out of the post, and that goal frame will surely still be shaking even now after that hit. A stunning strike from Neuhaus.

75' - DARIDA SHOT BLOCKED

Koch makes his presence known by blocking Darida's shot with the Hertha midfielder advancing towards the German penalty area.

69' - NEXT GERMANY CHANGE

Nico Schulz is on for Philipp Max - the assister of Germany's only go so far tonight. Meanwhile, Hertha's Vladimir Darida is on for Czech Republic.

65' - GERMANY STAYING IN CONTROL

Patience has been key for Germany in this first half with chances few and far between and Czech Republic enjoying some early possession. The final pass has been the only thing lacking so far, with Neuhaus and Brandt working some magic while Amiri and Dahoud have also been key in linking play to the attack. Waldschmidt, however, has not been found often enough in this second half so far.

59' - NEUHAUS DRAGS ONE WIDE

Neuhaus weaves his way into the Czech penalty area to the left before cutting a shot back across goal intended for the far bottom corner. Pavlenka is able to safely watch it dribble wide past his far post.

57' - STILL LOOKING FOR THE COUNTER

Koch's pass straight through the middle of the pitch for Amiri is a great one, but the Leverkusen midfielder is offside when the ball was played. He had Waldschmidt and Neuhaus in support, with Germany continuing to look for the counter, but this time the chance doesn't come off.

55' - ANOTHER TRAPP SAVE

The Frankfurt shot-stopper is in the right place to grab Soucek's header from a Czech corner. A better start to this half from the away side, who are keeping Germany under pressure with some lengthy periods of possession here in the opening 10 minutes.

50' - BRANDT IN ATTACK

The Dortmund man is playing through the middle now, with Amiri to his left and Waldschmidt to his right. Neuhaus and Dahoud in midfield also provide an attack-minded set-up for Löw.

46' - BACK UNDERWAY!

Mahmoud Dahoud is on at the break - sporting the No.9, hope Erling Haaland isn't watching - and he replaces Ilkay Gündogan.

HALF-TIME!

Germany are ahead at the break through Waldschmidt's opener after Max's assist. It's been a great first half for the hosts who could and probably should be more goals ahead. Chances have come and gone for Amiri and Brandt, while there was a worrying early substitution for Hofmann in an otherwise perfect opening 45 minutes.

43' - DOUBLE AMIRI CHANCE!

Two huge opportunities for the substitute to double the Germany lead. Brandt superbly weaves his way through the Czech midfield before Neuhaus sends Amiri through on goal. His shot is saved by Pavlenka and Germany get the ball back and it's Baku on the right in possession. He cuts back to the penalty spot where Amiri is waiting in acres of space, but his shot in once again saved by the Bremen goalkeeper.

42' - TRAPP IN ACTION

Another save for the Frankfurt No.1 who gathers from Kremencik's header after a nice cross from the right flank. Germany's defence still being tested but so far, so good.

37' - WING-BACKS FLYING

Baku and Max have been mightily impressive so far here. Both playing high up the pitch more as wingers, and Max could have two or three assists here. He's playing first-time crosses into the box which don't allow the Czech defence to settle. However, the likes of Waldschmidt and Brandt haven't expected them all yet properly.

32' - BIG CHANCE FOR BRANDT!

The Dortmund man is on the end of a mistake in the Czech defence from Brabec. He takes a touch to control on the edge of the penalty area before going for goal, but he miscues his strike massively and sends the ball high into the stands. A slap of the hands in frustration from the midfielder.

29' - GÜNDOGAN GOES CLOSE

Germany's captain for tonight has a shot blocked from the edge of the Czech box. That one looked goal-bound if not for the defensive effort to stop it.

26' - MAX'S TEASING CROSS

The assister of Germany's opener almost bags himself a second assist of the night already. He whips in a low cross from the left with Brandt and Amiri close to tapping it home past Pavlenka, but a recovering challenge from Novak stops Amiri from making an instant impact.

24' - SOAKING UP THE PRESSURE

Trapp has had one save to make, with Kremencik on top of a wayward pass from Baku before shooting on target. But Germany have had to soak up some pressure here since taking the lead. The counter is also looking dangerous for Löw's side, with Brandt and Waldschmidt making good runs in behind the Czech defence.

20' - EARLY SUBSTITUTION

Jonas Hofmann has had to come off early on here with what looked to be a hamstring injury, and Nadiem Amiri is on in his place.

15' - PERFECT START

With Germany opening the scoring, the hosts have quickly found their groove here. Great moments for Baku and Max who both contributed to that opening goal.

13' - GOAL! WALDSCHMIDT WITH THE OPENER!

A fantastic break again from Germany as Koch finds Baku out on the right in space. He reaches the Czech box before cutting back to Neuhaus, whose shot is parried by Pavlenka but falls out to Max. The former Augsburg full-back hits a first-time cross back into the box and Waldschmidt is on hand to tuck it home from close range.

10' - FIRST BREAK

Brandt sends a lovely through ball through the Czech defence for Hofmann, who cuts inside past one defender and looks for support on the edge of the opposition box. He spots Baku on the overlap, but his pass is wayward and Germany are forced to rework the attack. A good opening day for the Gladbach midfielder had he chosen to go for goal.

5' - FINDING THEIR WAY

It's been a bright early start, with Neuhaus and Gündogan on the ball plenty in midfield. Brandt and Hofmann are floating in attack and trying to link up play with both Baku and Max as wing-backs as well as Waldschmidt who is leading the attack.

1' - KICK-OFF!

And we're underway in Leipzig for the first of three Germany games in the next week.

10 MINUTES TO KICK-OFF! 

Warm-ups are getting wrapped up now in Leipzig with just 10 minutes to go until kick-off. There are players rested on the Czech Republic side to this evening, including Hertha's Vladimir Darida. We could see him, among others, come on in the second half.

CHANCES TO IMPRESS

For the likes of Baku and Max, who are making their Germany debuts tonight, this is a big chance to impress Löw ahead of the important final games of the calendar year. With all Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig players rested or injured, some of the names who have been drafted in for this evening could also earn themselves gametime against Ukraine and Spain.

NATIONS LEAGUE PREPARATION

Tonight's game comes before Germany's pair of UEFA Nations League games against Ukraine and Spain, to be played on Saturday and next Tuesday. Those two games are Germany's last of 2020 and also the final games of the group stage in the Nations League. Germany currently sit second in Group 4 of League A, level on points with Ukraine and one point behind leaders Spain with the group winners moving on to the semi-finals.

BAKU STARTS!

Having been called up to the squad following injuries to Marcel Halstenberg and Thilo Kehrer only on Sunday, Ridle Baku is in and starts for Germany for the very first time. The 22-year-old has progressed from Mainz to Wolfsburg and after impressing in his first games in the Wolves' Green, will now make his international debut for his country.

Click here to find out just who is Ridle Baku!

WELCOME!

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Germany's international friendly with Czech Republic this evening, being played at RB Leipzig's Red Bull Arena. As you can see the team news is in and there are two senior debuts in Joachim Löw's starting XI.