Germany eased to a 2-0 victory over Israel on Saturday in their first international match of 2022 as they step up preparations for the World Cup in Qatar in December.

Germany 2-0 Israel
Goals: 1-0 Havertz 36’ (assist: Raum), 2-0 Werner 45’+1 (assist: Gündogan)

The fixture took place at Hoffenheim’s PreZero Arena and Germany’s David Raum, playing on his home turf, appeared extra motivated to put on a show for the local supporters. Die Mannschaft were utterly dominant in the first 45 minutes, controlling the ball and tempo of the game, forcing their visitors onto the back foot. They largely did so through the efforts of Raum, who was a constant menace on the left flank with his tireless running and crosses into the box. It was fitting then, that it was the 23-year-old who teed up Germany’s opening goal following promising chances for Kai Havertz, Timo Werner and Julian Draxler, delivering a corner from the right for Havertz to head in at the near post. Werner gave Hansi Flick’s side the cushion their performance deserved on the stroke of half-time, flicking in an Ilkay Gündogan free-kick from close range.

The match followed a similar pattern after the interval, even if Germany eased down a gear or two in their attacking efforts. The best chance of the second half didn't arrive until the hour mark, when Thilo Kehrer's drilled shot was well kept out by goalkeeper Ofir Marciano, who thwarted the hosts on a number of occasions. Thomas Müller had a chance to add gloss to the scoreline in the last minute of normal time after Lukas Nmecha was fouled inside the box, but the Bayern veteran could only hit the post with his penalty. There was even time for another spot-kick after that following a momentary lapse in concentration from debutant Nico Schlotterbeck, who fouled Yonatan Cohan. However, the Freiburg defender's blushes were spared by Kevin Trapp, who saved the penalty to preserve Germany's clean sheet in what was otherwise largely a trouble-free victory.

Match stats

• Schlotterbeck and Stach both made their senior international debuts in this game.
• Stach featured in five of six games during the Germany U21s’ run to the UEFA Euro U21 title last summer. He is in the 99th percentile Bundesliga-wide for both shots attempted, and interceptions made this season.
• Stach became the 960th different player to represent Germany at senior level.
• Germany have won all eight of their games under Flick to date by an aggregate score of 33-2.
• Müller has made the most appearances among currently active Germany internationals (111). Only Philipp Lahm (113), Bastian Schweinsteiger (121), Lukas Podolski (130), Miroslav Klose (137) and Lothar Matthäus (150) have won more.

Line-ups

Germany: Ter Stegen (Trapp 46’) - Kehrer, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum (Günter 63’) – Weigl (Stach 63'), Gündogan (c) (Müller 46’) - Draxler, Musiala, Havertz (L. Nmecha 80’) – Werner (Sane 71’)
Unused subs: Neuer, Ginter, Henrichs, Rüdiger, Brandt, Neuhaus
Out: Adeyemi (hamstring), Gnabry (cold), Kimmich (personal reasons), Koch (not included)
Coach: Hansi Flick 

Israel: Marciano - Dasa, Bitton, Menahem, Goldberg – Solomon (D. Glazer 63’), Abu Fani (Safuri 75’), Peretz (Cohen 84’), Avraham (Kanichowsky 46’) – Dabbur (Haziza 75’), Baribo (David 63’)
Unused subs: O. Glazer, Nitzan, Abu Abiad, Baltaxa, Davidzada, Kandil
Out: -
Coach: Gadi Brumer

As it happened!

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