Germany vs. Belgium: CONFIRMED teams, match stats and LIVE blog!
Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich and Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne face off for the first of three meetings in as many weeks when Germany host Belgium in an international friendly in Cologne on Tuesday (kick-off: 8.45pm CEST), before the pair lock horns for their clubs in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Live blog!
2 - 3
(1 - 2)
Germany
FINAL
Belgium
Friendly International International RheinEnergieSTADION, Cologne
Full-time
87'
They couldn't, could they?
Gnabry gets his goal after an industrious performance, finishing off from Schade's pass! There's still time for an equaliser...
Sensational stuff from the Bayern winger to cut in from the right wing, dribble past three defenders and curl a shot past Casteels that kisses the outside of the far post and rolls away.
83'
Classy Casteels
Belgium's Wolfsburg goalkeeper draws a gasp of praise from the crowd as he lures Berisha in before dragging the ball away at the last minute and passing it to a teammate. Cool, calm, Casteels.
A clinical counter from the visitors as Trossard breaks down the left and slips a pass into De Bruyne, who finds the bottom corner with a first-time left-footed shot.
Kimmich tries to pick out the run of his Bayern teammate behind the defence but it's just intercepted by an outstretched leg.
73'
Germany probing
Hasni Flick's players are keeping possession well now as they try to prise apart the Belgium defence, but so fr the visitors are standing firm.
70'
Kimmich goes close
The midfielder receives the ball on the edge of the Belgium box, left of centre. He hears the crowd urging him to shoot and lets fly with a low drive, but Casteels is equal to it and saves well.
The ball is played in to Lukaku on the edge of Germany's box but Kehrer anticipates well and gets a toe on the ball before the striker can. Kimmich picks up the loose ball and swiftly spreads it to the right to launch a Germany attack.
59'
Werner goal disallowed
Nmecha slips a clever pass through to Werner, who tucks it past Casteels with a minimum of fuss, but it's rightly chalked off for offside.
The Bremen forward out-muscles and out-jumps Lukaku - you read that right - to reach a cross from the left but he can only direct his header over the bar from 10 yards.
56'
Kimmich frustrated
A quick throw-in on the right catches Belgium napping, allowing Kimmich to stride forward with the ball. He tries to find Werner as he bends his run behind the defnece but over-hits his pass - the Bayern man berates himself afterwards as he could have done better there.
53'
Gnabry goes close
Ter Stegen sends Wolf sprinting down the right with a superb long ball forward from the back. He gets to the byline and cuts it back for Gnabry, who can only fire wide under pressure from a defender.
51'
More control
Germany looked vulnerable almost every time Belgium got forward in the first half but they're mus more composed now and have tightened things up in midfield.
47'
(Almost) as you were
No changes from Germany during the break but Belgium have taken off Vertonghen, with Saelemaekers coming on in his place.
Belgium were the better side for most of the half and could have scored more than two - Lukebakio missing the best of their other chances. They may well come to rue that wastefulness as Füllkrug's penalty has given Germany an unexpected foothold in the game!
Half-time
On fire
That's now six goals in six senior appearances for Füllkrug!
Füllkrug meets a corner from the right at the near post but his goal-bound header hits Lukaku's outstretched arm. Penalty to Germany!
42'
Wolf's turn
The Dortmund right-back smashes a volley at goal from 16 yards but his angled drive his well held by Casteels.
40'
Werner's first effort
The Leipzig striker collects the ball outside the box, left of centre, and looks to shoot straight away but it's well wide of the target.
35'
Can making his presence felt
De Bruyne receives the ball in the middle of the pitch and immediately turns - or tries to. Can reads his intentions and nips in to win the ball, much to the delight of the home crowd. Germany have been lacking that kind of aggression so far here.
32'
Double change
Goretzka hobbles off the pitch after appearing to twist his left ankle in that earlier challenge on Lukaku. It's heavily bandaged as he goes back to the changing room for more treatment. Wolfsburg's Felix Nmecha comes on in his stead. The other change looks to be tactical, with Emre Can replacing Florian Wirtz in central midfield.
Lukuka receives the ball on halfway and immediately turns, sprinting towards the Germany goal. Goretzka spies the danger and makes up a couple of yards on the striker, forcing him to give the ball away as he snuffs out the danger.
Penny for your thoughts, Hansi?
The Germany boss has plenty of options on the bench should he decide to shake things up in the second half.
Lukaku outjumps everyone in the box at a corner but his header comes back off the crossbar!
20'
It should be three!
Belgium with a glorious chance to extend their lead further with a lightning-fast counter following a Germany corner. Lukebakio receives the ball just outside his own penalty area, flicks it over Wolf and starts sprinting towards the other end. He cuts in front of Kimmich and only has ter Stegen to beat, but can only roll his shot wide of the post. He was probably exhausted after running the full length of the pitch though!
18'
Carrasco making mischief
Carrasco does well down the left again - he's given Wolf plenty to think about already - and crosses into the box. Lukebakio can't quite control it and neither can Lukaku, allowing Germany to recover and clear their lines.
15'
Germany almost in!
Belgium are caught in possession as they try to pass their way out of their own box but they just about manage to escape, with too many bodies in the box for Wirtz, Füllkrug or Gnabry to get a shot away.
Unfamiliar position
Leon Goretzka and Germany are not used to being under this much pressure, or being 2-0 down so early on.
The visitors' early pressure pays off and again it's De Bruyne who picks the lock. The former Wolfsburg playmaker is surrounded by five players this time but is still able to thread a pass behind the defence to Lukaku, who whips a powerful left-footed effort beyond ter Stegen!
Germany are caught out on the break as De Bruyne finds space unmarked in the centre of the pitch. he spies Carrasco sprinting down the left and plays him in behind the defence. Carrasco cuts inside Wolf and smashes an unstoppable shot high into the roof of the net.
Gnabry drives forward on the right wing before cutting inside and shooting low with his left foot, but he drags his effort wide of the post!
3'
Bright start
Belgium have begun on the front foot, pressing high up the pitch and looking to attack Germany at pace at every opportunity.
1'
And we're off!
We're under way in Cologne! Germany are dressed all in black, Belgium are in white from top to tail.
Kick-off!
Belgium team news
With Thibaut Courtois headed back to Madrid with adductor problems, Wolfsburg goalkeeper Koen Casteels steps in to face some familiar opponents here. Elsewhere, Lukaku goes again up front after his hat-trick against Sweden.
Germany team news
Hansi Flick sticks to his pre-match promise that he wouldn't make a slew of changes to his starting team tonight compared to the side that began against Peru at the weekend. That means one more start for the impressive Dortmund player Marius Wolf on the right. Elsewhere, Kehrer and Gnabry are in from the start.
ter Stegen - Wolf, Ginter, Kehrer, Raum - Goretzka, Kimmich (c) - Gnabry, Wirtz - Füllkrug, Werner
Few changes
Flick mentioned he wouldn't be tinkering too much with the side that started in Mainz on Saturday. Thilo Kehrer will replace Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck in defence while Serge Gnabry is set to get the nod ahead of Kai Havertz.
"Different quality"
Germany coach Hansi Flick summed up an impressive Belgium team thusly: "We are facing an opponent of a quite different quality [to that of Peru]. Belgium have a new coach and a new spirit. You can see that they have outstanding footballers in their squad. They defend compactly and know how to use their possession, especially on the wings and in one-on-one situations, like against Sweden. These are things that make the team stand out, and they are one of the best there is."
Under the guise of former Schalke and Leipzig coach Domenico Tedesco, Belgium enjoyed a thumping qualifying win away to Sweden at the weekend, with Romelu Lukaku registering a hat-trick as the Red Devils got their Group F campaign off to a great start. Expect tonight's visitors to be in high spirits later.
The RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne plays host to tonight's friendly between Germany and Belgium. The impressive stadium - which has a capacity of 49,827 - will be one of the venues used during the EURO 2024 finals.
Fülle fun
Speaking of Füllkrug's impact on the squad, defender Thilo Kehrer explained: "Fülle has his own character, which is visible to everyone. He brings a relaxed attitude to the team. At the same time, he brings fun and energy." The Werder man is already building an impressive CV with Hansi Flick's side, scoring five goals in his five international appearances to date.
The EURO 2024 hosts enjoyed a 2-0 win against Peru in their first game of 2023 at the weekend, with Werder Bremen striker and the Bundesliga's leading marksman Niclas Füllkrug scoring a double at the MEWA Arena in Mainz.
Welcome along!
A very warm, Bundesliga welcome to our coverage of tonight's international friendly between Germany and Belgium!
Latest
A 2-0 win over Peru got Germany warmed up on Saturday, with Werder Bremen's Niclas Füllkrug providing his fourth and fifth goals for his country. Germany coach Hansi Flick has said he doesn't plan to make any major changes, vowing that "the majority" of the team that started that game in Mainz will also take to the field against Belgium. After providing an assist on his senior Germany debut, Borussia Dortmund’s in-form wing-back Marius Wolf can be expected to make back-to-back starts, but club-mate Nico Schlotterbeck has withdrawn from the squad because of injury, so Thilo Kehrer comes in. Just ahead of him, stand-in captain Kimmich will be partnered by Bayern Munich teammate Leon Goretzka. Flick confirmed on Monday that Serge Gnabry will assume the attacking role vacated by the cold-stricken Kai Havertz. Teenager Florian Wirtz also features again after starting against Peru.
Skippered by ex-Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg star De Bruyne - now of Manchester City - Belgium got the Domenico Tedesco era off to a flying start on Friday. The Red Devils beat Sweden 3-0 in UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying, in that was the former Schalke and RB Leipzig head coach's first game since replacing Roberto Martinez following the 2022 World Cup. The 37-year-old delved into the Bundesliga when naming his first squad, selecting Koen Casteels and Sebastiaan Bornauw of Wolfsburg, Dortmund’s Thomas Meunier and Hertha Berlin’s Dodi Lukebakio. The latter - his club's 10-goal top scorer in 2022/23 - really caught the eye with assists for two of three Romelu Lukaku efforts and should continue in attack. Casteels, meanwhile, wins his fifth senior cap in the absence of Real Madrid goalkeeper and Belgium No.1, Thibaut Courtois.
Watch:The best of Belgians in the Bundesliga
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Match stats
Füllkrug has scored five goals in as many games for Germany, as well as a league-leading 15 in this season's Bundesliga.
Timo Werner has more goals (eight) in the Flick era than any other Germany player. Havertz (seven) and Ilkay Gündogan (six) are next on that particular list.
Kimmich is set to captain Germany for the sixth time, on his 76th international appearance.
De Bruyne registered 23 goals and 36 asissts in 85 Bundesliga appearances between 2012 and 2015.
The last time these sides met was in qualifying for UEFA Euro 2012, with Germany winning 3-1 to complete a perfect qualifying campaign of 10 wins from 10.
Germany have won 20 of 25 meetings with Belgium (D1, L4).
