After failing to impress at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Euro 2024 hosts Germany will look to get back on track when they host Peru in an international friendly on Saturday.
Host country Germany will kick off their preparations for UEFA Euro 2024 with a friendly against Peru at the MEWA Arena in Mainz on Saturday night. Hansi Flick’s team will need to put their woes behind them and get their year off to a strong start after another disappointing World Cup.
Since lifting the magnificent trophy from the 2014 World Cup, Die Mannschaft have endured terrible moments, suffering two tough and humiliating eliminations from the group stage in the following two world editions.ย The latest embarrassment was in the recent World Cup in Qatar, where they took just four points from three games and finished behind Japan and Spain.
It is fair to say they are not even a shell of the once-dominant German team in recent history. Therefore, 18 months of low-pressure games leading up to the Euros will be beneficial for Hansi Flick to build his side’s style of play, and mentality and try out the fresh roster. Flick has responded by not picking several mainstays and stalwarts, including Thomas Muller, for this clash.
Peru, on the other hand, failed to qualify for Qatar. They lost to Australia on penalties back in June in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers and have not played any competitive games since that qualifier.
Juan Reynoso takes his side to Europe for two high-profile friendly games this month, as they face Germany in Mainz before heading to Madrid, where they face 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, with the game against the Atlas Lions set to take place at Civitas Metropolitano.
The visitors are looking forward to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup after CONMEBOL confirmed the fixtures for the South American campaign, in which six of the ten participants will automatically qualify for the first World Cup which will be held with 48 teams and across three nations (Canada, Mexico, and the United States).
This will be the third time that two teams will face off against each other. Germany defeated Peru by scoring two goals in 2018. That time, Nico Schulz scored the match-winning goal. Ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides, The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter.
Team News & Tactics
Germany
Keeping a watchful eye ๐ pic.twitter.com/nhEvh0wKYh
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 23, 2023
As alluded to above, Hansi Flick is making some adjustments in preparation for Euro 2024 and has refused to call up any of Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule, Thomas Muller, Ilkay Gundogan, or Marco Reus for the March friendlies. Meanwhile, Jamal Musiala and Armel Bella-Kotchap are injured.
Augsburg striker Mergim Berisha has been called up by the Germany manager as one of five potential debutants for the March friendlies against Peru and Belgium. It is the first time Berisha has been called up to a senior German team. And it comes after an exceptional season in goal for Augsburg, whom he joined on loan from Fenerbahce in the summer.
There are also maiden call-ups for Felix Nmecha, Josha Vagnoman, Marius Wolf, and Kevin Schade, with a mini-reconstruction of the squad ongoing.
Flick will be unable to count on Manuel Neuer, who is still recovering from a broken leg injury. This means that Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will take over the role of first-choice goalkeeper. Germany may line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. But it would not be a surprise if Flick gets creative with his formation in a bid to use his battalion of young players.
Right-back has been a persistent problem for the national team. So handing Marius Wolf a consistent run in the side to be able to lock down that role would not be a surprise, instead of continuing with a revolving door of players.
David Raum will get selected at left-back due to his enticing offensive abilities. But he will not be able to secure a continuous starting spot unless he improves defensively. At centre-back, Flick could opt for Matthias Ginter and Nico Schlotterbeck.ย Up ahead in midfield, Joshua Kimmich will be a key feature again, with Leon Goretzka likely to pair up with him in the double-pivot.
Germany have a lot of good attacking players in their squad. And Flick will likely adopt an offensive game plan. The attacking midfield trident of Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, and Timo Werner will provide pace, creativity, and the ability to tidy up in front of the goal, with Niclas Fullkrug leading the line for the home side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): ter Stegen; Wolf, Ginter, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Kimmich, Goretzka; Wirtz, Havertz, Werner; Fullkrug
Peru
Peru will be without the services of experienced duo Christian Ramos and Christian Cueva. But the Incas will otherwise line up a familiar team from their recent World Cup qualification period.
They are enjoying some fine form since Juan Reynoso took charge, winning three of the four friendlies under the former Cruz Azul boss, but facing the likes of El Salvador, Paraguay, and Bolivia is a whole different ballgame than facing a giant like Germany.
๐ฅ ยก๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐ซ๐๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ '๐๐ข๐๐จ๐ฅ๐จ๐ซ'! @DFB_Team ๐ฉ๐ช ๐ @SeleccionPeru ๐ต๐ช
๐Mewa Arena / Sรกbado 25 de marzo
๐ https://t.co/v3uZDas69g#ArribaPerรบ ๐ช๐ป pic.twitter.com/yHnPkyoc6E
— Selecciรณn Peruana ๐ต๐ช (@SeleccionPeru) March 17, 2023
The visitors are likely to adopt a defence-minded approach in Saturdayโs friendly, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese likely to have his hands full, while the back four of Luis Advincula, Carlos Zambrano, Luis Abram, and Miguel Trauco have their work cut out against Germany’s fluid attack as well.
Celta de Vigo midfielder Renato Tapia rejoins the national team after missing last year’s November friendlies and will start as the holding midfielder here, with Yoshimar Yotun and Pedro Aquino on either side of him in the middle of the park.
Cagliari striker Gianluca Lapadula is in good goal-scoring form presently, having netted 15 goals in Serie B already, and will spearhead the line for the visitors. Andre Carrillo and Edison Flores will support him in attack and look to create some chances.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3):ย Gallese; Advincula, Zambrano, Abram, Trauco; Yotun, Tapia, Aquino; Carrillo, Lapadula, Flores
Key Stats
- Germany have won 11 of their 19 games under boss Hansi Flick, drawing six and losing two.
- The hosts have won just three of their last 11 games across all boards.
- Germany are unbeaten in their last 12 friendlies.
- Peru have lost their last four matches against European opposition.
- Nine of Peru’s last ten games have involved fewer than three goals.
Player to Watch
Florian Wirtz
Wirtz is only recently back from injury, having torn his anterior cruciate ligament in March of last year. He has now featured 13 times this season, notching two goals and six assists across all competitions as he looks to recapture his best form again. Meanwhile, several top clubs are already lining up for his signature.
It is easy to forget that the playmaker is still just 19 and has the potential to become an absolute superstar for Germany in the coming years. While he has shown his talent in flashes for Germany, he’s yet to break his duck for the national team and will be chomping at the bit to do just that here against the lower-ranked opponent.
Prediction
Germany 2-0 Peru
Despite the quality of Peru’s opposition, they may not be humiliated. The Incas have won their last three matches in a row and have a habit of keeping things tight at the back, keeping five clean sheets in their last seven matches.
That said, it is difficult to see Peru producing much up on the other end of the pitch either, having scored more than once just two times from their last ten assignments. A new-look German side will offer the visitors a tough test and will have too much to offer for La Bicolor. Thus, a low-scoring win for the hosts looks like the likeliest outcome.
