Julian Nagelsmann’s side will finish their final warm-up fixture against Greece ahead of Euro 2024. As hosts of the tournament, Die Mannschaft will know they enter the competition with high expectations, and will hope a winning end to their preparations can ready them for their opening fixture against Scotland on Friday 14th June.
A 0-0 draw against Ukraine stretched their record under Nagelsman to three wins, two draws and two defeats, after a difficult start to his tenure since taking over from Hansi Flick, which has seen Germany slip to 16th in the FIFA world rankings.
Improved performances and results from the March 2024 round of internationals, with victories over Netherlands and France had suggested they were on an upward curve ahead of the tournament.
But a wasteful performance v Ukraine, where they failed to find the net and managed only 5 efforts on target in 27 attempts on goal, will have reminded Nagelsmann of the improvement needed if they are to seriously challenge in a competition where they are considered one of the top favourites.
In front of them are a Greek side who failed to qualify for the tournament after a devastating penalty defeat to Georgia in their Euro 2024 play-off. Gus Poyet left his role as Greece manager after the defeat and Nikolaos Papadopoulos has stepped up from the Under-21s side to assume charge in the interim.
Ranked 50th in the world, the fixture will act as the away side's first match since that disappointing result, and they will be keen to bounce back and spoil the German party before they face Malta on Tuesday 11th June in another international friendly.
Germany have beaten Greece six times in their nine encounters, reigning victorious in a 4-2 win over the away side in their last meeting 12 years ago at Euro 2012.
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Team News
Germany
Nagelsmann will be able to welcome back Toni Kroos, Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck and Niclas Füllkrug, who return after missing the fixture against Ukraine due to their involvement in the Champions League final for their respective clubs.
Rudiger will be expected to start at centre-back and be partnered by either Schlotterbeck or Jonathan Tah who has been an ever-present in the side since Nagelsman took over.
Leroy Sane will also be available for selection as he continues his recovery from injury. In an interview on Tuesday, the Bayern Munich winger stated "I feel very good. As far as I'm concerned, I'll play on Friday.”
His pace and goal-scoring threat will certainly be welcomed however, Nagelsmann may opt to show caution given his recent fitness struggles, and therefore may opt to go with Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga winner Florian Wirtz and Sane’s Bayern Munich teammate Jamal Musiala in the wide positions.
Arsenal's Kai Havertz ended the season in a fine run of form, scoring 5 times in his last 8 games for his club side. He has led the line for Germany in their last three games, but Nagelsmann may instead opt for the returning Füllkrug, who has scored four times in six appearances for his national side since the change in management.
Greece
The away side will be without Liverpool left-back Kostas Tsimikas and Sheffield United right-back George Baldock.
Georgios Tzavellas has also retired from international football after earning 50 caps, leaving opportunities for other full-backs to showcase their abilities.
In their absence, it is likely that Manolis Saliakas will play at right-back, who is currently plying his trade in Germany for St Pauli, and has just achieved promotion to the Bundesliga.
Dimitris Giannoulis of Norwich will likely fill the left-back role vacated by Tsimikas, and the full-backs will flank West Ham's Konstantinos Mavropanos and Cagilari's Pantelis Hatzidiakos.
Georgias Masouras will be tasked with creating an attacking spark, coming off a successful season at Olympiacos, winning the Europa Conference League.
Leading the frontline will likely be Fotis Ioannidis, however he will face competition from Vangelis Pavlidis who has enjoyed a fruitful season at AZ Alkmaar scoring 33 times in 46 appearances.
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos is also expected to feature.
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Likely Line-ups
Germany
Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz
Greece
Vladchodimos; Saliakas, Hatzidiakos, Mavropanos, Giannoulis; Kourbelis, Mantalos; Masouras, Bakesetas, Tzolis; Ioannidis
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Key Players
Germany - Toni Kroos
In what will be his last ever tournament before retirement from football, Die Mannschaft will be counting on Kroos to make a big impact, starting with Friday night.
The Real Madrid midfielder joins up with the squad on the back of ending his club career with victory in the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, where he assisted his side's first goal, a pinpoint delivery from a corner which Dani Carvajal expertly guided headed home into the corner to send the Los Blancos contingent at Wembley into raptures.
Operating as a 'regista' (a creative player operating in front of the defence), Kroos is second-to-none with his comfort on the ball, and his ability to pick it up in tight spaces before delivering inch-perfect passes whilst remaining unflustered is certainly a joy to watch.
Amongst other midfielders, he currently ranks in the 98th percentile for assists, 95th percentile for shot-creating actions and the 99th percentile for progressive passes (all stats per 90 minutes and via FBref). It will be this ability to create that Germany will rely on Kroos to deliver.
He is the soul of a German side who play through him, and his national side will hope he is able to dictate play against a Greek midfield which lacks the same pedigree, at least on paper.
Nagelsmann will also be delighted with Kroos' return back into the side and the intangibles he brings.
The six-time Champions League winner has a decorated career, winning every accolade club football offers and his experience and winning mentality will be welcomed into a German side hoping to improve upon their recent tournament experiences.
Greece - Odysseas Vlachodimos
Papadopoulos will need the experienced stopper to be in top form if his side are to get a result against a German side looking to finish their Euro 2024 preparations with a flourish.
The goalkeeper has experienced a difficult season at Nottingham Forest, only featuring seven times since making the move from Benfica in the summer of 2023.
The 30-year-old was initially born in Germany and made 47 appearances across the German national youth sides before switching his allegiance to Greece.
He has made 41 appearances for his national side, and has proved himself to be a dependable shot-stopper.
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Match Details
Where is the game being played?
The match will be played at the home of Borussia Mönchengladbach, Borussia-Park, in Mönchengladbach, Germany.
What time is kick-off?
Kick-off is at 19:45 BST on Friday 7th June 2024.
How can I watch?
Viewers in the UK will be able to watch the game on Premier Sports.
