Germany host Belgium in a friendly on Tuesday night and the hosts will be looking to boost their confidence with a win ahead of the Euros next year.
Die Mannschaft have had a dismal World Cup campaign and Hansi Flick will be hoping to continue the preparations for next year’s marquee event at home with a positive performance against Belgium this week.
Germany are coming into this game on the back of a 2-0 win over Peru in an exhibition game.
Meanwhile, Belgium picked up a 3-0 win over Sweden in the Euro 2024 qualifiers and they will be hoping to pull off an upset away from home.
Belgium were quite disappointing in the recently concluded World Cup as well and manager Roberto Martinez was shown the door after the end of the tournament.
Belgium looked impressive against Sweden under new manager Domenico Tedesco and it remains to be seen whether the players can grind out a positive result away from home against Germany.
Team News and Tactics
Germany
The home side will be without the services of Nico Schlotterbeck who picked up a knock against Peru and Kai Havertz who has returned to Chelsea because of illness.
The Germans are likely to line up in a 4-2-2-2 formation with Marc-Andre Ter Stegen in goal.
Marius Wolf has done well for Borussia Dortmund this season and he is set to start as the right-back with David Raum on the left.
With 47% of the vote, your #GERPER ๐ด๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐ is Marius Wolf ๐ pic.twitter.com/I7f9j4Gpxa
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 27, 2023
Matthias Ginter will start with Malick Thiaw at the centre of the defence.
The two full-backs will look to add creativity and width to the side along with their defensive responsibilities.
Joshua Kimmich will line up alongside club teammate Leon Goretzka in the midfield pivot and the two players will look to break up the opposition play and link the midfield with the attack.
Bayern Munich wingers Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane are set to start as the wingers here with Timo Werner partnering with Niclas Fullkrug in the attack.
๐ฃ๏ธ Flick: "I expect that we'll play with Werner and Fรผllkrug together up top again. We worked well going forward. I said after the Peru game that @TimoWerner put in some real hard yards. He creates space in between the lines that we can utilise."#GERBEL pic.twitter.com/a7B8zBsa2w
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 27, 2023
Fullkrug managed to impress with a brace against Peru and he will look to make his mark against Belgium as well.
Probable Lineup (4-2-2-2): Ter Stegen; Wolf, Ginter, Thiaw, Raum; Kimmich, Goretzka; Gnabry, Gotze; Werner, Fullkrug
Belgium
The visitors will be without the services of Jeremy Doku who has withdrawn from the squad with an injury and Thibaut Courtois has been ruled out as well.
Belgium are likely to line up in a 4-1-3-2 formation with Koen Casteels in goal.
Timothy Castagne will start as the right back here with Arthur Theate on the left. Wour Faes will partner with Jan Vertonghen at the heart of the defence.
Amadou Onana is set to start as the defensive midfielder and he will look to win the ball back for his side and recycle possession.
In the midfield three, Dodi Lukebakio will start alongside Kevin de Bruyne and Yannick Carrasco. The three players will look to link up with the attackers and add creativity in the final third.
Leandro Trossard is set to lead the line alongside Romelu Lukaku.
Probable Lineup (4-1-3-2): Casteels; Castagne, Faes, Vertonghen, Theate; Onana; Lukebakio, De Bruyne, Carrasco; Trossard, Lukaku
Key Stats
- Fรผllkrug has scored five goals in in his last five matches for Germany.
- Timo Werner has score eight goals under Hansi Flick, more than any other German player.
- The last time these sides met was in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012, with Germany winning 3-1.
- Germany have won 20 of 25 meetings with Belgium.
Player to watch out for
Niclas Fullkrug
๐ Five appearances
โฝ๏ธ Five goalsNiclas Fullkrug making his mark in the @DFB_Team ๐ฉ๐ช pic.twitter.com/vosOXOzX4O
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) March 25, 2023
Fullkrug has been in outstanding form this season for Werder Bremen and he has 15 goals across all competitions. He is coming into this contest on the back of a brace against Peru and he will be full of confidence. Belgium have shown vulnerability at the back and Fullkrug has the quality and the confidence to exploit that. The 29-year-old is our man to watch out for this week.
Prediction
Germany 2-1 Belgium
Both teams are blessed with an abundance of talent and this should be a close contest.
Germany will be the favourites at home and they have the attacking quality to take advantage of Belgiumโs vulnerable defence.
The visitors are likely to put up a fight here but the Germans have a more well-rounded squad and they should be able to pick up a narrow 2-1 victory here.
