Germany vs Ghana; International Match

Germany 2-1 Ghana. A tough pill to swallow for the Ghanaians inside the stadium, as they saw their team fight back superbly to equalise after Havertz had stroked Germany (3.06 xG) into a late first-half lead from the penalty spot, following a dominant German display. But Ghana (0.56 xG) started strongly after the break, and made the most of the chaos brought around by substitutions mid-way through the second half as they began to break on Germany with greater threat and regularity. And sure enough it was a Ghanaian substitute who drew them level, as Fatawu swept into the bottom corner with ease following a fantastic piece of play from left-back Kohn, who skinned Vagnoman on the left wing before picking out Fatawu on the penalty spot. 18-year-old Lennart Karl was introduced in the second half to add some much needed intrigue and spark to a relatively dull German display. The Bayern star danced and sprung his way past defenders for fun for much of the second half before missing a chance he should have scored late on. But it did not matter, as a far more experienced but still electric Leroy Sane exploded into life in the 88th minute, playing a sharp one-two with Goretzka on the edge of the box to get into the box, receiving the return on his head and nodding it into the path of Stuttgart’s very own Undav, who was well-positioned to poke home a real poacher’s finish into the roof of the Ghana net. Addo will be disappointed with the result as they extend their losing streak to five, but the performance against a strong Germany team will give Ghana hope that they can look forward to a World Cup summer once again. Germany were far from in top gear, and will need to warm up significantly if they are to challenge Stateside come July, but they have all the makings of a challenger. That’s all from Stuttgart, we’ll see you next time and thank you for following.

FULL TIME: Germany 2-1 Ghana

Atalanta winger Sulemana replaces Yirenkyi for the closing moments.

sub-on:

Kamaldeen Sulemana

sub-off:

Caleb Yirenkyi

Kohn, who brilliantly assisted Fatawu for the equaliser, makes way late on for Bonsu Baah.

sub-on:

Christopher Bonsu Baah

sub-off:

Derrick Köhn

That was classical Leroy Sane. Starting in a standstill position, combining with Goretzka and beating his marker for pace before laying on the assist.

assist:

Leroy Sané

GERMANY LEAD LATE! GHANA HEARTS ARE BROKEN! It is a goal fit of winning any game of football, and it comes from the outstretched boot of Stuttgart’s favourite son, Undav. The move is started magnificently by Sane, who plays a one-two with Goretzka and bursts into the box where he receives the return on his head and nods the ball into the path of Undav who is off-balance but manages to twist his body to poke the ball into the roof of the net from close range. Wonderful move. Germany 2-1 Ghana.

goal:

Deniz Undav

Sane skips past a couple of challenges and pokes a shot goalwards which deflects into the path of Goretzka who scoops it on for Karl who is free inside the area. The 18-year-old takes a touch but then mishits his effort and it skews wide of the far post. He should really have scored with the quality he possesses.

Ghana have been excellent in this second half. They have defended diligently and showed quality and composure when it mattered. The quality of their substitutions has shown through, as Germany have changed it up and got a little disjointed, Ghana have capitalised and look set to pull of a famous result.

Karl is at his electric best once again as he picks the ball up centrally and just darts between players into the right side of the penalty box, fleet-footed and evading challenges. He drops the ball off for Vagnoman who lays the ball back to Kimmich who has acres of space on the edge of the box...but the Bayern man's effort is all wrong and he spoons it miles over.

A tidy display from Woltemade who moved and played with touch and elegance as he tends to. Galatasaray's Sane comes on for the final 12 minutes.

sub-on:

Leroy Sané

sub-off:

Nick Woltemade

Karl, Undav and Woltemade combine as the ball ends up on the head of the big Newcastle forward as he looks to flick it on into the path of a runner but Djiku comes across to boot the ball well clear and protect his nation's equaliser.

That is Fatawu's third Ghana goal, on the 22-year-old's 27th appearance. It has hugely uplifted the large number of Ghana fans inside this stadium. A really special moment for him and his country.

Schlotterbeck is booked for a cynical challenge on Yirenkyi as the right-wing back skips past him down the line.

yellow-card:

Nico Schlotterbeck

THERE WE GO!! GHANA HAVE THEIR GOAL!! INCREDIBLE! Germany are wide open and Kohn exploits it superbly by searing past Vagnoman on the left wing and cutting into the penalty area. He has all the time in the world to pick out Fatawu, who is unmarked and sweeps into the bottom corner to equalise for Ghana with virtually his first touch. Germany 1-1 Ghana.

goal:

Abdul Fatawu

Excellent work from the left-back to skin his man on the left and pick out the substitute for a simple finish.

assist:

Derrick Köhn

It's been a sedate last 10 minutes after a frantic start to the second half. The substitutions have just disrupted the rythym and Ghana have actually looked more confident with their new introductions.

Another one of Ghana's better-known players comes on as Fatawu replaces Adu. The Leicester forward has nine Championship goals this season.

sub-on:

Abdul Fatawu

sub-off:

Prince Adu

Owusu has only just come on and is lucky to only receive a yellow as he goes in late, with studs and high on Schlotterbeck.

yellow-card:

Elisha Owusu

Close for Ghana! A corner is well-worked to the near post where Ayew runs onto it and diverts it towards the far corner. It takes a deflection off a German player that could go anywhere, but luckily for the home side spins narrowly the right side of Nubel's post.

It's industry for physicality as Gross comes off for Goretzka.

sub-on:

Leon Goretzka

sub-off:

Pascal Groß

The third Stuttgart player of the evening comes on for Germany as Fuhrich enters the game in place of Wirtz.

sub-on:

Chris Führich

sub-off:

Florian Wirtz

A bright display from Brown comes to a close as he is replaced by Raum.

sub-on:

David Raum

sub-off:

Nathaniel Brown

Another local favourite comes on as Stuttgart's Vagnoman replaces Stiller in midfield for his second international cap.

sub-on:

Josha Vagnoman

sub-off:

Angelo Stiller

Silly from Adu. The forward is booked for preventing a restart needlesly.

yellow-card:

Prince Adu

Karl immediately shows why he is so highly rated. He weaves past three Ghana defenders on the right wing with a 'la croqueta' and drop of the shoulder, before slipping it rhough another defender's legs on the edge of the box and winning a free-kick in a threatening position. That woke this entire stadium up in an instant.

Oppong has been in the wars pretty much from the first whistle and after a few minutes of on-field treatment, he is escorted off by the medical team with Luckassen, of Cypriot Champions League-side Pafos FC, replacing him.

sub-on:

Derrick Luckassen

sub-off:

Kojo Peprah Oppong

This second half has started like a train! Germany open Ghana up again as Woltemade starts the move with a cute flick through the legs for Gross, who moves it onto the right flank with Karl. The young wideman picks out Woltemade six yards out in a wonderful position but he can only cannon his header off the crossbar.

Ghana respond well with their best moment of the game so far as Semenyo gets in behind again and pulls the ball back towards Adu on the six yard box. The Viktoria Plzen forward looks sure to turn the ball home but Schlotterbeck gets his body angle right and turns it behind.

It is glorious from Germany as Wirtz plays a pass inside for Karl who lets the ball run through his legs allowing Brown the space to pick out Gross on the left side but his curled effort is straight at Asare.

Germany have their first foray into the Ghana box as Wirtz, on the left byline, plays the deftest of passes for Brown who whips the ball dangerously towards the near post, but Adjetey gets his head to it.

We're back underway in Stuttgart...

The biggest cheers of the night ring out in Stuttgart as their current forward Undav comes on for Gnabry. The former Brighton man has 18 goals in 23 league games this season!

sub-on:

Deniz Undav

sub-off:

Serge Gnabry

Havertz's final touch of the game was his penalty. Karl, the 17-year-old Bayern Munich wonderkid, replaces him.

sub-on:

Lennart Karl

sub-off:

Kai Havertz

Like for like at centre back as Tah makes way for Real Madrid defender Rudiger.

sub-on:

Antonio Rüdiger

sub-off:

Jonathan Tah

Auxerre midfielder Owusu enters the field for Sibo.

sub-on:

Elisha Owusu

sub-off:

Kwasi Sibo

For their 66% possession, 11 shots and 33 touches in the Ghanaian box, Germany have only created 1.82 xG. Nagelsmann will be sending them out hungry for three, four and possibly more in the second period. Ghana meanwhile have mustered just a single shot, registering 0.01 xG, perhaps what you'd expect from a side ranked 60 places below their opponents.

A frustrating half for Germany ends in delight for the home crowd as a Havertz penalty on the stroke of half-time gives them the lead over a resilient but rather toothless Ghana side. In truth, Germany should be well clear in this game. Wirtz kissed the post with a delicate free-kick early on, before having a goal disallowed following a lovely piece of play between Kimmich and Woltemade laid it into the Liverpool midfielder’s path to sweep home…only for Woltemade to be penalised for offside. Tah then blazed a half-volleyed effort, inexplicably, over the cross bar from six yards out when a corner dropped to his feet as Germany’s persistent pressure and territory looked to be waning. But in the 46th minute, Wirtz found some space in the box and saw his goalward effort blocked by Adjetey. It took about 90 seconds for the referee to call play back, go to the screen and award the penalty, but award it he did. Havertz stepped up and converted with his typical calmness. Ghana have offered very little going the other way, and they will need plenty more to be shown by their star man Semenyo in the second half if they are to prevent a fifth straight loss.

HALF-TIME: Germany 1-0 Ghana

Havertz steps up, stutters and serenely strokes the ball into the bottom right corner, sending Asare the wrong way for his 21st Germany goal. It's a gutting moment for the Black Stars, who had worked so hard to keep them out in the first half. Germany 1-0 Ghana.

goal:

Kai Havertz

Incredible!! From out of nowhere seemingly, Germany have a penalty late in the first half. It comes from an innocuous Wirtz effort which is blocked by Adjetey at close range. The move goes on for about 90 seconds before the referee finally calls play back and visits the screen, where he determines that the ball has hit the defender in an unnatural position. Germany have their penalty.

To their credit, Ghana have managed to relieve the pressure pretty regularly, either through winning fouls up the pitch or using Semenyo and Adu in the channels. They have not threatened the Germany goal at all but have not looked in too much danger of conceding themselves.

Just as Germany look to have lost a bit of tempo, Gross injects some into the attack with an incisive pass into the feet of Gnabry who is on the central edge of the area in a pocket of space, but the Bayern winger's first touch is loose and Germany are wasteful once again.

The most completed passes for Ghana is Djiku with 19. Kimmich for Germany has completed 52 already in the first 40 minutes.

It has been an entertaining first half and one which Germany have dominated, but they have only managed to have two shots on target despite having 27 touches in the Ghana box. They have not quite been direct enough once they have got themselves in the positions to score.

Germany think they have scored a picturebook goal, courtesy of Wirtz once again, but the linesman's flag says otherwise. Kimmich strokes a glorious pass into the feet of Woltemade inside the box. The forward takes the ball in deftly and lays it back into the path of Wirtz who sweeps the ball home but the flag goes up and rightly so, as the replays show Woltemade was a shade ahead of his marker.

WOW! How has that not gone in?? Kimmich whips a trademark free-kick in from the right corner of the box which catches Asare in no mans land. He misses his punch and the ball drops to the floor inside the six yard box where a couple of German legs swing at it without making contact. It eventually drops for Tah once more but the big centre-half can only blaze his effort over the bar from six yards out, via a deflection.

Ghana are just beginning to cause Germany some problems now. Nothing yet to trouble Nagelsmann, but certainly signs of threat. Germany started so strongly but have tailed off in the last 10 minutes.

Semenyo spins in behind towards the byline from the second phase of the corner and smashes it across goal but there is no Ghana forward lurking, only Kimmich, who does well to ensure the ball diverts away from rather than into his own net.

Oppong has been in the action on that left flank for Ghana. This time he dives in from a distance but times his challenge on Havertz to perfection to avert the danger as the Arsenal forward looked to glide towards the byline. Semenyo then plays an excellent pass up towards Adu as Ghana launch a rare counter which ends with a corner kick.

Germany play a corner short and the ball eventually comes to Gnabry 30 yards out. He lets fly on his left foot but the powerful, low effort is comfortably wide of Asare's left post.

Wirtz, who has been on the periphery so far, darts inside from the left flank and combines with Gnabry smoothly before laying the ball off for Kimmich on the edge of the area. The right-back has space and the angle to take a shot but instead chooses to clip a delicate cross in towards the six-yard box and nobody is there.

Ghana have their first shot of the evening and it is an awkward volley on the edge of the box from Sibo. Meanwhile, Oppong has gone down in discomfort after being fouled on that earlier run forward. The full-back is on his feet but one to keep an eye on.

Stiller makes Germany's first error as he misplaces a forward pass in midfield and it gives Ghana their first chance to have some settled possession. Oppong is fouled as he surges forward from left-back and Ghana have some relief at last.

Ghana have had just 20% of the ball so far and made 20 accurate passes. Germany have made five times that many, with 113 accurate passes. Total control.

It is relentless Germany pressure in this opening 10 minutes. After Stiller sees a shot blocked inside the area, Havertz goes down under challenge and asks for a penalty but Attwell is having none of it. Tah then sees a cross sit up perfectly for him at the back post but baloons his half-volley out for a throw-in.

Wirtz steps up on the right edge of the penalty area and curls the ball around the wall only for it to kiss off the outside of the right post. That was not too far away.

The game has it's first booking as Adjetey gives away a cynical free-kick from behind which hands Germany an excellent opportunity...

yellow-card:

Jonas Adjetey

Wonderful move from Germany as Havertz is slipped in down the right side of the penalty area and pulls it back for Woltemade on the penalty spot who is unmarked but can only divert the ball an inch wide of the far post with the inside of his right foot. Close.

Germany threaten straight away as Wirtz nicks the ball back inside the Ghana penalty area but he cannot slip the ball through the defenders legs and the visitors clear.

Referee Stuart Attwell gets us underway in this fascinating international clash in a vibrant atmosphere...

The teams make their way out in Stuttgart with kick-off moments away...

Did you know that the last two times these nations have faced each other have been at World Cups, namely in 2010 and 2014. Germany won 1-0 in South Africa thanks to a 60th minute Mesut Ozil strike, while Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan earned Ghana a 2-2 draw in the group stage in Brazil. Ghana went on to reach the quarter-finals of the 2010 tournament, their best-ever finish at a World Cup finals.

Just two changes for Addo in reaction to a thumping defeat to Austria. Asare comes in for Ati-Zigi in goal, while Oppong for Fattawu is the only other change. Oppong comes into the back three while Yirenkyi moves into the right wing-back role to facilitate Adu joining Semenyo in the front-two.

Four changes for Nagelsmann from Friday’s thrilling win against Switzerland as Nubel steps in for Baumann between the posts and Brown comes in for Raum at left-back with the rest of the back-four the same. In midfield, Gross replaces Goretzka, while Woltemade comes in for Sane. It remains to be seen whether Havertz or Woltemade will play in the deeper role.

SUBS: Lawrence Ati Zigi, Patric Pfeiffer, Abdul Fatawu, Joseph Anang, Ibrahim Sulemana, Gideon Mensah, Elisha Owusu, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Jerome Opuku, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ransford, Konigsdorffer, Derrick Luckassen, Marvin Senaya, Daniel Agyei.

GHANA (3-4-1-2): Benjamin Asare; Kojo Peprah Oppong, Alexander Djiku, Jonas Adjetey; Derrick Kohn, Kwasi Sibo, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, Caleb Yirenkyi; Antoine Semenyo, Prince Adu.

SUBS: Oliver Baumann, Antonio Rudiger, Waldemar Anton, Leon Goretzka, Kevin Schade, Denis Undav, Chris Fuhrich, Leroy Sane, Finn Dahmen, David Raum, Vagnoman, Anton Stach, Lennart Karl, Malick Thiaw.

GERMANY (4-2-3-1): Alexander Nubel; Nathaniel Brown, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, Joshua Kimmich; Pascal Gross, Angelo Stiller; Serge Gnabry, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz; Nick Woltemade.

Two international sides in starkly contrasting form face off today as Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany, with five wins in their last five, host Otto Addo’s Ghana, on a run of four consecutive defeats and scoring just once in that time. A 5-1 defeat to Austria on Friday evening only deepened the current hole that Ghana find themselves in as a footballing nation. The Black Stars failed to qualify for the most recent AFCON, the first time they have done so since 2004 and despite cruising through top of their CAF qualification group for this summer’s World Cup, progressing from Group L past England and Croatia is looking like a tall order in their present form. In the four games before Friday night’s 4-3 victory over Switzerland, Germany had scored 13 goals without conceding. Plenty has changed in Nagelsmann’s squad following disappointment at the last two major tournaments, a group stage exit in 2022 and a quarter-final defeat to Spain in Euro 2024. Florian Wirtz, who scored two wonderful goals on Friday evening, has assumed the key role at the heart of the attack, while the likes of Nick Woltemade, Lennart Karl, Angelo Stiller and Nathaniel Brown have all come in over the past 18 months and freshened up the options. Group E consisting of Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador could prove challenging, but should give the Germans the perfect platform to mount an assault on the final stages of the tournament this summer. Today is a chance to continue building momentum against a side majorly lacking in organisation and belief.

Hello and welcome to coverage of this international friendly between Germany and Ghana, live from the MHP Arena in Stuttgart!