International Friendly: Germans Seek to Set Out Stall

Germany vs Ukraine

They are my tip to be crowned European champions this summer so, from a German perspective, it’s probably fair to expect a few highlights when the tournament hosts welcome Ukraine to Nuremberg for their International Friendly on Monday night.

This is their penultimate exhibition game before they kick off Euro 2024 against Scotland on June 14 and, with home advantage, there is a certain degree of both added expectation and pressure.

So, let’s address the elephant in the room.

Can Die Mannschaft put to bed their recent tournament woes and seal a summer to remember with new International Friendly 2024 highlights?

Talking Points

Standing in their way to begin with in the Max Morlock Stadion is a Ukraine side which narrowly saw off Iceland in a play-off to reach the championships.

Placed in a group comprising Belgium, Slovakia, and Romania they made it to the delight of many neutral fans, who have witnessed the ongoing struggles in the country since it was invaded by Russia over two years ago.

Football has been a rare distraction for the better for a nation which is an underdog but has some genuine talent spearheaded by the likes of Viktor Tsygankov, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mykhailo Mudryk, and Artem Dovbyk – the latter has just won the Golden Boot in La Liga after a superb season with Girona.

Of course, Germany have a much stronger strength in depth, and the onus is firmly on them to bounce back emphatically after enduring a difficult and, at times, embarrassing few years.

Back-to-back World Cup group-stage exits sandwiched a last-16 loss to England at Euro 2020 and anything other than a run to at least the semi-finals is likely to leave their followers dissatisfied.

Joachim Low and Hansi Flick both paid for the team’s poor form with their jobs, and Julian Nagelsmann’s reign also got off to a difficult start with losses to Turkey and Austria.

Matters have since turned around with Toni Kroos’ return to the fold from international retirement, prompting a duo of memorable friendly wins against France and the Netherlands.

Ahead of his retirement from the game, Kroos is part of a squad which features a number of big names, even if Nagelsmann has omitted some household ones too including Mats Hummels, Leon Goretzka, Emre Can, Serge Gnabry, and Julian Brandt.

Borussia Dortmund duo Niclas Füllkrug and Nico Schlotterbeck, along with Real Madrid players Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, will not make this fixture due to their Champions League final commitments, but one man who could be back is veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

He last played for his country at the 2022 World Cup and has been missing for almost a year since suffering a season-ending leg fracture shortly afterwards which left him on the sidelines.

A warm welcome awaits his likely return. Then it will be very much down to business as the summer of 2024 for Germany – who are only third favourites behind England and France to win the tournament – begins in earnest.

Write them off at your peril.

History

This will be the 10th meeting between the nations and the Germans have not lost yet. There have been four draws though amongst the nine clashes, most recently a 3-3 draw in Bremen last June.

That was when Fullkrug gave the hosts a sixth-minute lead only to trail 3-1 11 minutes after the restart due to a Tsygankov double and an own goal.

Ukraine would have claimed a memorable win but for two goals in the final eight minutes as Kai Harvertz pulled one back before Joshua Kimmich netted a stoppage time penalty in Germany’s 1,000^th international match.

It remains the only time they have avoided defeat on German soil.

The very first meeting came in April 1997 in a World Cup qualifier when Mario Basler and Oliver Bierhoff scored the goals in a 2-0 victory.

Betting Tip

Fancy another six-goal thriller?

Well, the SBOTOP International Friendly 2024 betting odds make it worthwhile with a pay out of @ 75.00 with Correct Score 3-3.

An historical Ukraine win is available 1X2 @ 6.10 and Asian Handicap +1.25 @ 1.95. That contrasts dramatically with Germany who are priced 1X2 @ 1.36 and Asian Handicap -1.25 @ 1.87.

The draw is on offer @ 4.43.

I think there will be a fair few goals again and, while I have considered Total Goals 4-6 @ 2.59, I’ve opted to be slightly more conservative with a tip of Total Goals 2-3 @ 2.10.

 

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