Werder Bremen's Niclas Füllkrug scored twice as Germany beat Peru 2-0 in an international friendly in Mainz.

Germany 2-0 Peru
Goals: 1-0 Füllkrug 12' (assist: Havertz), 2-0 Füllkrug 33' (assist: Wolf)

In action for the first time in 2023, Germany set the tone as senior international debutant Marius Wolf drove a warning shot wide from distance. Füllkrug went one better moments later, this season’s Bundesliga top scorer sweeping Kai Havertz’s pass into the back of the net from inside the area. Peru goalkeeper Pedro Pallese thwarted Florian Wirtz and Timo Werner in quick succession as Germany turned the screw. And after Werner fired over from a tight angle, Füllkrug popped up between two defenders to tuck away Wolf’s inviting pass for his fifth goal in as many appearances for his country. Only a goal-line clearance from former Hoffenheim man Luis Advincula denied Germany’s No.9 a first-half hat-trick.

With a friendly against Belgium to come on Tuesday, Germany head coach Hansi Flick used the opportunity to introduce Mario Götze, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry at the start of the second period. The UEFA Euro 2024 hosts continued to ask all the questions, though it wasn’t until the hour mark that they seriously threatened a third goal. Joshua Kimmich clipped a ball into the box for Gnabry, whose audacious over-head attempt rattled the crossbar. Nico Schlotterbeck then won a penalty after being upended by Miguel Araujo, only for Havertz to crash the ensuing spot-kick against the woodwork. Augsburg's Mergim Berisha missed a late chance to grab a debut goal as Germany saw out a thoroughly deserved win with minimum fuss.

Match stats

• Füllkrug has scored 20 goals for club and country since the start of the 2022/23 season.
• Wolf was one of five newcomers in Flick's squad, along with Berisha, Josha Vagnoman, Felix Nmecha and Kevin Schade.
• Kimmich won his 75th senior cap, captaining his country for the fifth time.
• Germany have won 12 of their 20 games under Flick, drawing six and losing two.
• Werner has the most goals (eight) of the Flick era. Havertz (seven), Ilkay Gündogan (six) and Füllkrug (five) are next on that particular list.
• Retired Peru striker Claudio Pizarro holds the Bundesliga record for most appearances by a non-German (490).

Teams

Germany: ter Stegen - Wolf, Ginter, N. Schlotterbeck (Kehrer 86'), Raum - Kimmich (c), Can (Goretzka 46') - Wirtz (Götze 46'), Havertz (Schade 75') - Werner (Gnabry 46'), Füllkrug (Berisha 75')
Unused subs: Trapp, Leno, Thiaw, Kehrer, Vagnoman, F. Nmecha, Günter
Out: Musiala (muscular)
Coach: Hansi Flick

Peru: Gallese (c) – Advincula (Zambrano 88'), Abram, Araujo, Lopez – Aquino (Yotun 70'), Tapia, Cartagena (Polo 56') – Carrillo (Sandoval 88'), Gonzales (Flores 46') - Ruidiaz (Lapadula 46')
Unused subs: Caceda, Carvallo, Santamaria, Trauco, Liza, Pena, Castillo, Valera
Out: -
Coach: Juan Reynoso

As it happened

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