Germany 2-1 Saudi Arabia
This was closer than many people expected.
Not that we should read anything into this result with less than a week until the start of World Cup 2018.
In truth, the reigning world champions were in control until a late scare.
But it wasn’t the goals which proved the main talking points in Leverkusen.
Highlights
The goals were highlights of course.
It took young Timo Werner just eight minutes to put the hosts in front, firing into the top left hand corner after being set up by Marco Reus.
Reus and Sami Khedira hit the post before an own goal by Omar Hawsawi two minutes before the break seemingly put the game beyond the Saudis.
Yet once the Germans had taken a number of their key players off, the contest was closer and, moments after Mohammed Al Sahlawi saw a penalty saved by Marc-Andre ter Stegen – a half-time replacement for captain Manuel Neuer – Al Sahlawi made amends by setting up Taiseer Al Jassam who reduced the arrears.
Al Sahlawi rounded off a dramatic personal last 10 minutes when his shirt was pulled by Mats Hummels in injury time and was denied a penalty.
Amazingly, this was Germany’s first win in 2018 but that should not be considered negative.
Friendly draws with England, France and Spain – since their last win of qualifying – and narrow defeats to Brazil and Austria – have simply been preparation for all that matters – the bid to defend their world crown.
That begins against Mexico on June 17.
The main talking point came just before the hour when IlkayGundogan entered the fray, one of six substitutes for Joachim Low’s men,
He replaced Reus to boos from the home faithful, much to the disgust of Low who urged them to cheer on the midfielder.
Gundogan said this week that he was privileged to have grown up in Germany.
But his every touch was jeered as fans remembered his comments last month when he met the Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan and called him ‘my president’.
Gundogan is one of two of German players of Turkish origin.
So that is now it.
Both nations are in action over the next 10 days – the Saudis in the tournament opener against Russia.
The next time they kick a ball, it’s for real!
Key statistics
The last time Germany went five matches without a win was in 1988. They were crowned world champions two years later.
Germany managed 21 shots compared to 12 from the visitors.
What’s next?
The friendlies are now over.
Saudi Arabia will face hosts Russia in the World Cup opener on June 14 in the Luzhniki Stadium in Russia before playing Uruguay and Egypt in Group A.
The Germans open against Mexico in Group F, also in the Luzhniki, before meeting Sweden and South Korea.
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