Bundesliga
Germany edge Greece in final EURO 2024 friendly
With one week to go before the start of the 2024 European Championship, host nation Germany came from behind to beat Greece 2-1 in their final friendly ahead of the tournament.
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Germany 2-1 Greece
Goals: 0-1 Masouras (34’), 1-1 Havertz 56’ (assist: Sané), 2-1 Groß (89')
Greece may not have qualified for EURO 2024 but they began determined to show they should have done, and they put Julian Nagelsmann’s side under pressure early on at Borussia-Park. Manuel Neuer was forced to make a brilliant double save from Fortuna Düsseldorf’s Christos Tzolis in just the sixth minute to keep the game goalless, and it wasn’t until the 22nd minute that Germany mustered their first real effort, but Jamal Musiala’s attempt from the edge of the box was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos. Greece edged in front just after the half-hour mark when Neuer could only parry another Tzolis shot into the path of Georgios Masouras, who tapped in the rebound. Jonathan Tah could have equalised just before the interval, but the Bayer Leverkusen defender headed wide from a Toni Kroos free-kick.
Nagelsmann introduced Leroy Sané and David Raum at the interval, and the former was involved in Germany’s equaliser early in the second half. The Bayern winger skipped forward down the right on a counter-attack and fed the ball into Kai Havertz, who executed a superb turn before levelling the score. Kroos’ set pieces were a source of danger throughout, and look set to be a valuable weapon for Germany at EURO 2024, with the towering Tah and Antonio Rüdiger imposing targets to aim at. Tah lashed a volley wide in the closing stages as Germany pushed for a winner, while Nico Schlotterbeck had an effort saved, Benjamin Henrichs hit the crossbar with a thundering drive from outside the box, and Niclas Füllkrug had a header thwarted by the goalkeeper. Their pressure eventually took its toll, with substitute Pascal Groß firing in a last-minute winner to give Germany a confidence-boosting result ahead of next week's big tournament opener against Scotland.
Watch: The best of Germany's Bundesliga call-ups
Match stats
- Havertz scored his 16th international goal on his 46th outing for Germany.
- Groß's goal was his first at senior level for Germany.
- Füllkrug is Germany’s top scorer in the Nagelsmann era with four goals from six games (plus an assist). Havertz is next with three.
- Nagelsmann’s record in charge of the national team (all friendly matches) is four wins, two draws and two defeats.
- Germany have never lost against Greece, with seven wins and three draws. The most recent encounter prior to this game was a 4-2 win in the quarter-finals of Euro 2012.
- No players from Greece appeared in the Bundesliga this past season, but Tzolis finished as joint-top scorer in the second division with 22 goals for Düsseldorf.
Line-ups
Germany: Neuer - Kimmich (Henrichs 68'), Tah, Rüdiger (Schlotterbeck 69'), Mittelstädt (Raum 46') - Kroos, Andrich (Groß 68') - Musiala, Gündoğan (c) (Füllkrug 68'), Wirtz (Sané 46') - Havertz
Unused subs: Baumann, Beier, Führich, Koch, Müller, Pavlović, Ter Stegen, Undav
Out: -
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Greece: Vlachodimos (Athanasiadis 78') - Rota, Mavropanos, Hatzidiakos, Giannoulis - Siopis, Mantalos (Kourbelis 78') - Bakasetas (Bouchalakis 68') - Masouras (Douvikas 68'), Ioannidis (Pavlidis 10'), Tzolis
Unused subs: Mandas, Tzolakis, Kotsiras, Koulierakis, Kyriakopoulos, Ntoi, Retsos, Saliakas, Limnios, Tsingaras
Out:
Coach: Nikos Papadopoulos
As it happened!
2 - 1(0 - 1)
Germany
FINAL
Greece
89'
vs
Groß gives Germany late lead!
What a fantastic strike! The ball loops to the edge of the box from a cross and the former Hoffenheim and Karlsruhe youngster smashes it in superbly into the top corner to put Julian Nagelsmann's side into a deserved lead.
85'
vs
Füllkrug header saved
Germany keep on pushing, with Füllkrug connecting with a cross into the box but failing to get enough power on his header to trouble Athanasiadis.
83'
vs
Henrichs hits crossbar!
What a hit! The ball falls to Henrichs just outside the box following a corner, and the Leipzig full-back takes it forward before pinging a powerful effort slap bang into the crossbar.
81'
vs
Schlotterbeck smashes on goal
The Dortmund defender tests Athanasiadis's readiness from at least 20 metres out, and his drilled shot is saved only at the second attempt by the substitute goalkeeper.
79'
vs
Change of Greek goalkeeper
Vlachodimos has been excellent tonight, but if there is one thing you can expect in international friendly matches it is substitutions, and the Greek goalkeeper is replaced by Athanasiadis for the final phases.
78'
vs
Tah tries his luck
The ball bounces loose on the edge of the box as Germany push forward again, and Tah lashes over on the half-volley.
74'
vs
Solid from Schlotterbeck
Greece create another very threatening break, which sees them going two on two. Schlotterbeck is one of the German defenders back and gets into exactly the right position to intercept a pass into the area.
73'
vs
Germany finding gear
The host of substitutions hasn't taken away from the momentum Germany have been building since the equaliser. Musiala takes aim from well outside the box and curls an effort past the top corner.
68'
vs
Niclas Füllkrug
Robert Andrich
68'
vs
Benjamin Henrichs
Joshua Kimmich
68'
vs
Nico Schlotterbeck
Antonio Rüdiger
68'
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Pascal Groß
Ilkay Gündogan
68'
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Four changes for Germany
Julian Nagelsmann rings the changes for the final 20-odd minutes.
64'
vs
Tah and Neuer to the rescue
Some fine rearguard action from Germany as Jonathan Tah slides to intercept a ball into the box in spectacular fashion, before Neuer moves off his line quickly to block Tzolis.
63'
vs
Excitement in the air
Getting on the scoresheet has visibly lifted Germany, while taking the wind out of Greece's sails. The hosts want to win this, and the crowd is right behind them!
56'
vs
Havertz levels!
Germany are back on equal terms thanks to a potent quick attack that sees Havertz take a ball from Sané from the right with his back to goal in the box. He turns superbly and shoots in via a deflection off Siopis.
53'
vs
Pavlidis powers a shot wide
The substitute centre-forward gets a bit of space on the edge of the box and drives narrowly wide.
51'
vs
Kroos for Tah again
The midfielder floats another free-kick towards the centre-back at the far post. It's turned behind for a corner before he can reach it - that leads to an Andrich effort fired over from just outside the box.
49'
vs
End-to-end again
Little has changed in the flow of the play since the restart. Kimmich chips a ball into the area, then Greece launch a quick attack via a long ball that Neuer does well to head clear.
46'
vs
Leroy Sané
Florian Wirtz
46'
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David Raum
Maximilian Mittelstädt
46'
vs
We're back in action
Germany start with two changes in their final 45 minutes of football before the big EURO 2024 kick-off against Scotland next Friday.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
0 - 0
Half-time
45' +1
vs
Another threatening Greek break
Pavlidis has a shot aimed for the bottom corner deflected behind before we enter two minutes of stoppage time.
43'
vs
Havertz puts ball into net
Kai Havertz finishes a great sweeping passing move, but the goal is ruled out as he was standing a fraction offside before receiving the final pass from Musiala.
40'
vs
Tah goes close!
Germany's best chance yet as Kroos clips a free-kick to the far post and the Bayer Leverkusen defender leaps to send a good header a fraction wide of the other post.
37'
vs
Kroos cracks free-kick over
The Champions League winner steps up to take a free-kick 20 metres away from goal and dips his effort over the crossbar.
33'
vs
Greece take the lead
The visitors are in front. Their high pressing wins them the ball just outside the Germany area, and Manuel Neuer can only spill a shot from Tzolis into the path of the onrushing Georgios Masouras, who taps Greece ahead.
29'
vs
Wirtz gets behind the line
The Leverkusen attack star breaks free on the right and clips a cross in from the right that ends up going on target and having to be saved by Vlachodimos.
26'
vs
Masouras misses target
Greece threaten on another quick attack, but Masouras sweeps over the bar from outside the box.
22'
vs
Musiala marker
Germany's first shot comes from the Bayern playmaking genius, who sweeps his effort from just outside the box into the hands of Vlachodimos.
19'
vs
Action at both ends
Masouras gets the ball on the left on a good break for Greece, and Tah intercepts his cross cleanly. Kimmich then clips a testing cross in at the other end of the field.
16'
vs
Germany corner
The hosts have their second corner of the game, with Kroos curling it into the middle of the box but failing to find a team-mate on this occasion.
13'
vs
Greeks bearing no gifts...
The visitors have started well, with an early change for them as Pavlidis replaces the injured Ioannidis in attack.
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The visitors have started well, with an early change for them as Pavlidis replaces the injured Ioannidis in attack.
6'
vs
Huge chance for Tzolis!
Greece slice their way through the German lines with some slick passing and Dusseldorf's Tzolis is denied twice by Manuel Neuer from close range - once with his leg before he reaches a hand out on the ground to stop him turning in the rebound.
4'
vs
Lively start
Germany are seeking to launch long passing sequences, but Greece have been determined opponents in the opening minutes, having two early attacks - with Bakasetas having a shot blocked and a cross clipped over from the left.
1'
vs
Off we go!
After the ball is delivered by a remote-controlled car, Germany kick off in their pink and purple kit.
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Nationals anthem played
The atmosphere is bubbling on a summery evening - kick-off is imminent!
vs
Germany taking three goalkeepers to tournament
Julian Nagelsmann has indeed confirmed before kick-off that Germany will contest EURO 2024 with Manuel Neuer, Marc-André ter Stegen and Oliver Baumann as goalkeeping options, with Alexander Nübel not making the final squad.
vs
No Nübel on Germany bench
Alexander Nübel, on loan at Stuttgart from Bayern Munich, is not on the Germany substitutes' bench tonight. With 15 substitutes, in addition to the 11 starting, that could provide a clue to the final composition of the 26-man squad announced later this evening.
vs
Greece starting XI
Vlachodimos - Rota, Mavropanos, Hatzidiakos, Giannoulis - Siopis, Mantalos - Bakasetas - Masouras, Ioannidis, Tzolis
vs
Germany starting XI
Neuer - Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt - Kroos, Andrich - Musiala, Gündoğan (c), Wirtz - Havertz
vs
Last preps in place
Today marks a big day for the German national team. They not only take on Greece in their final friendly before Euro 2024 gets underway on home soil but they will also name their final squad for the competition after that game. A lot to be decided today.