Bundesliga
Niclas Füllkrug at the double as Germany beat Peru
Werder Bremen's Niclas Füllkrug scored twice as Germany beat Peru 2-0 in an international friendly in Mainz.
Germany 2-0 Peru
Goals: 1-0 Füllkrug 12' (assist: Havertz), 2-0 Füllkrug 33' (assist: Wolf)
In action for the first time in 2023, Germany set the tone as senior international debutant Marius Wolf drove a warning shot wide from distance. Füllkrug went one better moments later, this season’s Bundesliga top scorer sweeping Kai Havertz’s pass into the back of the net from inside the area. Peru goalkeeper Pedro Pallese thwarted Florian Wirtz and Timo Werner in quick succession as Germany turned the screw. And after Werner fired over from a tight angle, Füllkrug popped up between two defenders to tuck away Wolf’s inviting pass for his fifth goal in as many appearances for his country. Only a goal-line clearance from former Hoffenheim man Luis Advincula denied Germany’s No.9 a first-half hat-trick.
With a friendly against Belgium to come on Tuesday, Germany head coach Hansi Flick used the opportunity to introduce Mario Götze, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry at the start of the second period. The UEFA Euro 2024 hosts continued to ask all the questions, though it wasn’t until the hour mark that they seriously threatened a third goal. Joshua Kimmich clipped a ball into the box for Gnabry, whose audacious over-head attempt rattled the crossbar. Nico Schlotterbeck then won a penalty after being upended by Miguel Araujo, only for Havertz to crash the ensuing spot-kick against the woodwork. Augsburg's Mergim Berisha missed a late chance to grab a debut goal as Germany saw out a thoroughly deserved win with minimum fuss.
Match stats
- Füllkrug has scored 20 goals for club and country since the start of the 2022/23 season.
- Wolf was one of five newcomers in Flick's squad, along with Berisha, Josha Vagnoman, Felix Nmecha and Kevin Schade.
- Kimmich won his 75th senior cap, captaining his country for the fifth time.
- Germany have won 12 of their 20 games under Flick, drawing six and losing two.
- Werner has the most goals (eight) of the Flick era. Havertz (seven), Ilkay Gündogan (six) and Füllkrug (five) are next on that particular list.
- Retired Peru striker Claudio Pizarro holds the Bundesliga record for most appearances by a non-German (490).
Teams
Germany: ter Stegen - Wolf, Ginter, N. Schlotterbeck (Kehrer 86'), Raum - Kimmich (c), Can (Goretzka 46') - Wirtz (Götze 46'), Havertz (Schade 75') - Werner (Gnabry 46'), Füllkrug (Berisha 75')
Unused subs: Trapp, Leno, Thiaw, Kehrer, Vagnoman, F. Nmecha, Günter
Out: Musiala (muscular)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Peru: Gallese (c) – Advincula (Zambrano 88'), Abram, Araujo, Lopez – Aquino (Yotun 70'), Tapia, Cartagena (Polo 56') – Carrillo (Sandoval 88'), Gonzales (Flores 46') - Ruidiaz (Lapadula 46')
Unused subs: Caceda, Carvallo, Santamaria, Trauco, Liza, Pena, Castillo, Valera
Out: -
Coach: Juan Reynoso
As it happened
2 - 0(2 - 0)
Germany
FINAL
Peru
vs
Full-time: Germany 2-0 Peru
A pleasing performance from Hansi Flick's Germany, who looked determined to show what they are capable of and could have easily won by a greater margin. A good start to their long EURO 2024 build-up.
0 - 0
End of second half
90' +2
vs
David Raum
90'
vs
Four minutes of stoppage time indicated
Time is running out for another goal.
88'
vs
Germany still pushing
The hosts are looking for a third as the game draws towards a close.
86'
vs
Schlotterbeck off
The centre-back is another player to have impressed tonight. He goes down under a challenge and requires his knee to be strapped, so comes off for Kehrer in the final minutes.
86'
vs
Timo Kehrer
Nico Schlotterbeck
82'
vs
Gnabry snaps a shot wide
He has looked lively ever since coming on at half-time, but Gnabry fires wide after being supplied by Berisha on the left.
80'
vs
Time for a Mexican wave
The sell-out crowd have enjoyed themselves, with the Peru fans also remaining noisy throughout. The players are still going for it, but there is a bit of tiredness out there and the fans break into a wave.
75'
vs
Two attacking debutants
Berisha of Augsburg and Schade of Brentford (formerly of Freiburg) come on to earn their first caps in the final 15 minutes.
75'
vs
Mërgim Berisha
Niclas Füllkrug
75'
vs
Kevin Schade
Kai Havertz
73'
vs
Gnabry dips ball wide
Serge Gnarby twists inside a defender on the right and sends a dipping cross ahead of Havertz that falls just the wrong side of the post.
68'
vs
Havertz misses penalty
The Chelsea attacker strikes the penalty into the right post. He turns the ball into the net straight away on the rebound, but you're not allowed to score that way, Kai, and it's disallowed.
66'
vs
Penalty to Germany
VAR confirms the trip on Schlotterbeck.
64'
vs
Schlotterbeck down in the box
The centre-back bursts through two opposing defenders on the edge of the box and goes down under a challenge from Araujo. No penalty is given despite appeals from the Germany players. VAR will check this...
63'
vs
Goretzka to Götze
The Bayern man clips the ball into Götze, who allows it to run a little too far ahead. Germany are looking a regular threat now with their swift attacking play.
60'
vs
Gnabry rattles the crossbar!
That would have been some goal! Kimmich chips the ball over the defence and Serge Gnabry pulls off a sleek bicycle kick that sends the ball on goal with immense power. Unfortunately for him, it smashes into the bar.
59'
vs
Good combination play
Gnabry, Kimmich, Havertz and Wolf are all involved in some short passing that looks to break a way through the Peru defence on the right.
53'
vs
Gnabry floored
The Bayern attacker gets knocked down by Peru goalkeeper Gallesse in challenging for the ball. There is no suggestion it was anything but accidental. Peru play on and win a corner, meanwhile Gnabry is well enough to continue.
51'
vs
Peru corner
The South Americans show their ambition again with Lapadula, who came on as a half-time substitute, charging at the defence and playing the ball to Carrillo before Schlotterbeck turns it behind a corner that comes to nothing.
49'
vs
Germany on the attack
The hosts continue to have the upper hand. Raum and Kimmich combine well with a free-kick 30 metres out, and the captain plays the ball out to Wolf on the right, who sends a decent cross in.
46'
vs
Triple change
As you would expect, Hansi Flick mixes things up for the second half of the friendly. The only member of the 2014 World Cup winning side named in the current squad, Mario Götze, who is at Frankfurt these days, is one of the trio of incoming players.
46'
vs
Leon Goretzka
Emre Can
46'
vs
Serge Gnabry
Timo Werner
46'
vs
Mario Götze
Florian Wirtz
46'
vs
We're back
Peru kick-off the second half with Germany having made three changes...
0 - 0
Kick-off!
vs
Half-time: Germany 2-0 Peru
An entertaining 45 minutes of friendly international football and a very pleasing half for Germany, and Niclas Füllkrug in particular! His two goals have put his side comfortably in front.
0 - 0
Half-time
45'
vs
One minute of stoppage time indicated
Almost time for the break in Mainz.
44'
vs
That could have been the hat-trick!
Wirtz pulls the ball back at the far post following a Havertz cross and Niclas Füllkrug sends a shot on goal that beats the goalkeeper but is blocked by Advincula.
42'
vs
Germany buzzing
You can sense the Germany players are pleased with their work so far, but eager to add more goals to make a statement tonight. Peru continue to battle but are being well outplayed.
38'
vs
Schlotterbeck finds Havertz
Another good chip forward from the Dortmund defender and Havertz chests it down in the box, only for a defender to clear.
33'
vs
Füllkrug at the double!
He strikes again! Wolf turns a ball into the area on a quick attack and Füllkrug nips in between two defenders to pounce with a real poacher's finish. VAR checks for a possible offside, but the goal stands.
31'
vs
Werner hits over
The ball breaks to Werner at the far post from a corner. He takes the ball down well and is suddenly through on goal from a tight angle. The Leipzig striker shoots over.
29'
vs
Germany in command
After a fairly fluent spell with action at both ends, Peru have dropped back now while Germany dominate possession, move the ball around and seek to find a way through for opportunities to extend their lead.
23'
vs
Raum delivery almost brings a second
A great cross from the full-back is narrowly missed by both Werner and Füllkrug in the box.
22'
vs
Ruidiaz whips a wicked ball in
The Peru striker plays it across and behind the Germany defence from the right, but none of his team-mates can meet it. This game has really sparked to life after a slow opening few minutes!
20'
vs
Wirtz and Werner denied
A pair of good chances come as Germany race through the Peru defence. Wirtz is denied by a stop by Gallese, and the Peru keeper reacts really well to save from Werner on the rebound.
19'
vs
Schlotterbeck smashes clear
The Dortmund centre-back pulls off an acrobatic volleyed clearance after a Gonzales free-kick had been turned into the Germany box.
15'
vs
Werner tries to pick out Havertz
Germany are looking to press on. Werner escapes behind the Peru defensive line and tries to cut back to Havertz, who is lurking on the edge of the box, but it's cleared.
12'
vs
Füllkrug fires Germany in front!
Germany have started to build some pressure and get a deserved lead. Moments after getting a header saved on the line from a corner, Havertz chests a long pass from Schlotterbeck into Füllkrug, who sweeps straight in from within the box!
9'
vs
Wolf whacks a shot wide
The first effort from Germany comes after the ball was played out to the onrushing Wolf on the right in a fluent attacking move. He connects well with a drive but it flies wide.
7'
vs
Füllkrug tries to feed Havertz
A decent pass is played through the Peruvian defence by the Werder Bremen striker, but the Chelsea attacker can't quite get onto the end of it.
6'
vs
Peru = pressing
Germany are playing the ball around but the red shirts of Peru are chasing into them and getting a lot closer than Hansi Flick would have wished. Very early still though...
3'
vs
Error at the back
Wolf plays the ball across straight to Carrillo, but the Peruvian attacking midfielder is unable to get a shot away.