Germany, with a new-look team, made a promising return to the international stage with a 1-1 draw against Serbia in a friendly, showing signs of improvement following a disastrous 2018.
Germany, knocked out of the World Cup in the group stage and relegated in the Nations League last year, had only one player from their 2014 World Cup victory in the starting side in Wolfsburg and their oldest outfield player was aged 24. The world champions Mats Hummels, Jérôme Boateng and Thomas Müller have all been sent into international retirement
Serbia, who had Marko Dmitrovic to thank for hanging on to the draw as the goalkeeper made several saves to deny Germany a second goal, finished with 10 players when Milan Pavlov was sent off for a reckless challenge on Leroy Sané.
The Manchester City winger was taken off but Joachim Löw said the injury was not too serious and Sané would be fit for Sunday’s Euro 2020 qualifier against the Netherlands in Amsterdam. “It was a vicious foul. Sané was lucky and got away with not getting hurt but such fouls can break bones.”
City Xtra
(@City_Xtra)🎥| Leroy Sané on the receiving end of a shocking challenge this evening.
More aggressive and quicker than in recent games, with Kai Havertz, Julian Brandt and Sané playing behind the forward Timo Werner, the hosts needed only three minutes to get a shot on target with Havertz firing at Dmitrovic following a quick passing move.
Serbia went forward after 11 minutes and their first corner bounced off the back of two players to land perfectly for Luka Jovic to head in for his first international goal.
The 21-year-old, who has scored 22 goals in 35 appearances for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, is likely to be among the biggest transfer targets this summer, with Real Madrid and Barcelona among clubs reported to be interested.
Werner twice went close to an equaliser before Serbia, who won promotion in the Nations League after an undefeated run in their group, wasted a chance when Adem Ljajic fired over the bar.
Germany kept up the pressure and wasted several chances in the second half before the substitute Leon Goretzka grabbed a deserved equaliser in the 69th minute.
“In the first half the automation in this new team, playing together for the first time, did not function that well,” Löw said. “In the second half the team sent a very good signal that we can increase pressure and we can increase the tempo. We had a lot of chances and we missed the final touch a bit. That is also part of the learning experience. Overall, I am very satisfied with the mentality, the pressure we created.”