Germany hosted Slovakia in Augsburg as the two sides came together to prepare for the upcoming European Championships. The World Champions were, of course, favourites for the contest. However, Slovakia came into the tussle unbeaten in their previous six and proved why they will be no pushovers this summer with a 3-1 win. 

The Germans break through

The hosts were the first to apply pressure on the Slovakian goal. Jerome Boateng's scuffed volley from Leroy Sané's corner was tipped over the bar by Matus Kozacik, as the whipped cross snuck through a crowd of players in the box, landing at waist height for Boateng to line up. 

The Germans controlled the game up until the deadlock was broken, and it was no shock that Joachim Löw's side were the first to score. The goal was a penalty, tucked away in composed fashion by Mario Gomez after Mario Götze was brought down by Juraj Kucka in the box.

Germany crack under Slovakian pressure

After taking the lead 15 minutes in, the Germans seemed to take their foot off of the gas for a moment...a few moments too long. Dusan Svento used his attacking strengths in the German box, fooling the defence with some impressive trickery. One player he didn't fool with his quick feet was Sebastian Rudy, who calmly pulled the ball from Svento's possession, before returning play to Bernd Leno in the German goal. 

The pressure however was not relieved, as moments after, Marek Hamsik fired the visitors level with an electrifying answer to Gomez' opener from the spot. As he approached the penalty box, the Napoli midfielder eyed up the shot, which left Leno helpless in guarding his net. His right footed curler nestled in to the top right of Leno's goal, cancelling out the German lead. 

Even after the equaliser, Löw's team couldn't seem to reset the play how they had hoped to. The world champions looked nervous in possession and in defence. After some great play by Slovakia on the right side of the field, Vladimir Weiss snuck into the box with some admirable dribbling, his attempted cross was blocked by Leno, bouncing awkwardly in the air for Rudy to blast the ball out of play in a particularly nerved manor. 

Ter Stegen's mistake summed up a rotten afternoon for Germany. | Image source: kicker - Getty Images
Ter Stegen's mistake summed up a rotten afternoon for Germany. | Image source: kicker - Getty Images

Slovakia take advantage of German nerves

Following Rudy's panicked clearance, the Slovakians were awarded a corner, in which they scored from. Weiss' delivery was greeted in the box by the head of Michal Duris, who stunned Leno with a powerful header into the left side of the roof of the net. Slovakia were ahead and the Germans were falling apart in all areas. 

A sense of pathetic fallacy arrived after the goal, as rain clouds occupied the skies of Augsburg, bringing the mood of the Germans down even more. Play was suspended at half time due to the extremely heavy rain shower, flooding the corners of the pitch resulting in a half time pitch inspection. 

Play was deemed fit to continue, and Germany took advantage of the break, making three changes; Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Julian Weigl and Brandt replaced Leno, Sami Khedira and Gomez. 

Slovakia call time with a third goal

Things didn't improve after half time; five minutes following the extended break, Slovakia took the game away from the hosts as they claimed their third goal. After giving away the penalty, Kucka redeemed himself with a goal. His volley was struck cleanly at goal into the hands of ter Stegen, however the German 'keeper lost his grip as the ball dribbled through his legs and into the goal. Fritz Walter weather an advantage? Not for this German side.

The play rolled on, as did the rain. Germany held possession but the damage was already done. They looked for a consolation goal two minutes from time, as the youthful energy of Sané and Brandt combined with the experience of Andre Schürrle; it was not Germany's day as he was unable to keep his shot down. 

Warning signs for Germany

If anything, today's game was a wake up call for Germany, Löw and his team will be thankful that their defeat came in the form of a friendly before the competition begins. Luckily, Deutschland have one more friendly to fix things, as they host Hungary next week in Gelsenkirchen. 

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