Florian Neuhaus scores on senior debut but Germany pegged back three times by Turkey in Cologne
Borussia Mönchengladbach's Florian Neuhaus scored on his senior international debut - alongside strikes from Julian Draxler and Luca Waldschmidt - but Germany were held to a draw in their friendly with Turkey on Wednesday in Cologne.
Germany 3-3 Turkey
Goals: 1-0 Draxler (45'+1), 1-1 Tufan (50'), 2-1 Neuhaus (58'), 2-2 Karaca (67'), 3-2 Waldschmidt (81'), 3-3 Karaman (90'+4)
With all Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig players in the squad rested ahead of two UEFA Nations League games to come during this international break, Joachim Löw handed a senior debut to Gladbach's Neuhaus. Despite a number of changes to the usual line-up, Germany started strongly against Turkey. Draxler thought he had opened the scoring after six minutes on the rebound, but Germany's captain on the night was offside after Waldschmidt's initial shot was saved. Borussia Dortmund pair Nico Schulz and Julian Brandt went close with chances of their own around the half-hour mark but with the game looking to be going into the break level, a moment of magic opened the scoring. Former Bayer Leverkusen star Kai Havertz sent Draxler in on goal and his lofted finish over Mert Günok put Germany ahead at half-time.
Turkey immediately responded five minutes into the second half with former Fortuna Düsseldorf defender Kaan Ayhan finding captain Ozan Tufan, who turned past Brandt and curled past Bernd Leno to level the score. Less than 10 minutes later and the Germany lead was restored however thanks to a debut goal for Neuhaus, who exchanged a one-two with Havertz before slotting the ball home. Löw's side were pegged back for a second time just nine minutes later, though, as Neuhaus was dispossessed in a dangerous position and Efecan Karaca took advantage to slot past Leno. Both Jonas Hofmann and Mahmoud Dahoud came on for their senior debuts in the second half to help Germany take a third lead of the game. Schalke's Ozan Kabak – on as a substitute – cleared a cross only as far as Waldschmidt in the Turkey penalty area, and his strike was too hot for Günok to keep out. Germany looked set for victory until Düsseldorf's Kenan Karaman was found in the box to slot home in injury time for a third Turkey equaliser to share the spoils on an entertaining night at the RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne.
Line-ups
Germany: Leno – Can, Koch, Rüdiger (Tah 59') – Henrichs, Neuhaus (Dahoud 79'), Brandt (Stark 85'), Schulz (Gosens 70') - Havertz (Amiri 90'), Waldschmidt, Draxler (c) (Hofmann 59')
Unused subs: Trapp, Ginter
Out: Gnabry, Goretzka, Halstenberg, Kimmich, Klostermann, Kroos, Neuer, Süle (all rested), Gündogan (not considered), Sane (knee), Serdar (thigh), Werner (cold)
Coach: Joachim Löw
Turkey: Günok – Sangare, Demiral, Ayhan (Kabak 75'), Kaldirim – Yokuslu (Karaman 63'), Tufan (c) - Karaca (Tekdemir 70'), Yazici (Toköz 46'), Kilinc (Ünder 46') - Ünal (Ömür 85')
Unused subs: Akkan, Cakir, Meras, Müldür, Kökcü, Kutucu
Out: Calhanoglu, Söyüncü, Yilmaz (all rested)
Coach: Senol Günes
Watch: Turkish delight: the Top 10 Turkish goals scored in the Bundesliga
Match stats
- Florian Neuhaus scored on his international debut for Germany.
- Former Freiburg forward Waldschmidt - now at Benfica - scored his first international goal for Germany.
- Three players made their senior international debuts on the night, with Neuhaus, Dahoud and Hofmann making their maiden appearances for the German national team.
- The Germany squad boasts 20 Bundesliga-based players.
- Dortmund's Emre Can was eligible to play for Turkey, before pledging his allegiance to his country of birth, debuting for the senior side on 4 September 2015.
- Can is one of seven UEFA Champions League winners in Löw’s 29-man ensemble, alongside Bayern quintet Goretzka, Gnabry, Kimmich, Neuer and Süle, and Kroos.
- Germany have won 14 of their 21 meetings with Turkey, including three of the last four.
Watch: Neuhaus' January Goal of the Month winner for Gladbach!
As it happened!
90'+4' - LATE, LATE GOAL
Turkey equalise for a third time as the ball is played into the Germany box and it's a superb knock down from Ömür to Karaman in the penalty area, and he slots the ball under Leno to bring the game level.
90' - ADDED TIME!
We're now into five minutes of time added on at the end of this game. Germany looking to hold on for victory.
90' - LAST CHANGE?
Leverkusen's Nadiem Amiri is on for Havertz as we enter added time in Cologne.
87' - OFF THE BAR!
Düsseldorf's Kenan Karaman fires a shot off the Germany crossbar from his left foot, with Leno unable to get a hand to the ball. A late warning once again for Löw's defence.
85' - STARK ON
Hertha Berlin's Niklas Stark is on for the final minutes, replacing Brandt and slotting into defence with Can moving up into midfield.
81' - GOAL! WALDSCHMIDT GIVES GERMANY ANOTHER LEAD!
A poor clearance from Kabak in the Turkey defence sees the ball fall straight to Waldschmidt 10 yards from goal. A touch on the chest to control before he smashes a shot on target, and Günok's hand is not strong enough to keep it out. A third lead of the night for Germany.
79' - DEBUTANT FOR DEBUTANT
The third maiden international appearance of the evening is handed to Dortmund's Mahmoud Dahoud, on in place of goalscorer Neuhaus for the final 11 minutes or so. He will be looking to make an immediate impact here to clinch a late win.
75' - BRAVERTZ BACK TOGETHER
Former Leverkusen duo Brandt and Havertz are working well in midfield for Germany, kick-starting counter-attacks with Gladbach's Neuhaus and Hofmann in toe. However, Waldschmidt is being isolated in attack in the last 10 minutes or so and the passes in the final third have not been as clinical.
70' - MORE GOALS TO COME?
The game has clearly opened up more in this second half and the mix of fresh legs coming on may see more goals come before full-time. Germany have gone ahead twice and seen two equalisers come from Turkey, but Löw's side are already pushing forward for more.
67' - TURKEY LEVEL AGAIN
Karaca dispossess Neuhaus with what looked to be a foul on the Gladbach midfielder, but play continues and he races forward to slot the ball past Leno to equalise for a second time. He's now down and requiring treatment, however.
62' - BRANDT FORCES A BIG SAVE!
Another slick Germany counter-attack sees the ball fly forward and Waldschmidt cuts it back to the edge of the Turkey penalty are after Hofmann's great work in the build-up. Brandt hits a first-time shot, but Günok dives across goal to make a fantastic save.
59' - DEBUT FOR HOFMANN
Two changes immediately after that goal from Löw as Jonathan Tah comes on for Rüdiger, while Jonas Hofmann replaces Draxler to make his senior debut for Germany at the age of 28. A fantastic moment for the Gladbach man.
58' - GOAL! NEUHAUS ON DEBUT!
Gladbach's midfielder has a debut goal here and it's another assist for Havertz. A tidy one-two on the edge of the Turkey box after Waldschmidt's flick gave Neuhaus the ball. He exchanged passes with the Chelsea man before slotting the ball into the back of the net.
53' - LENO FORCED INTO ACTION
Half-time substitute Cengiz Ünder fires a shot at goal from the edge of the Germany penalty area and Leno makes another solid save to keep the scores level. Germany looking to respond now with Turkey building in confidence.
50' - TURKEY LEVEL
A goal to bring the game level early in the second half as Ayhan finds Tufan 20 yards from goal. He turns well past Brandt and curls a shot past Leno and into the top corner. A lovely finish from the captain to equalise.
47' - EARLY CHANCES
A lobbed ball into the box over the Turkey defence is latched onto by Waldschmidt, as he lets the ball float over his shoulder and onto his right foot. His attempted first-time lob goes just over the crossbar. A minute or so later and Germany work the ball across the Turkey penalty area to Brandt, who cuts back past one defender and pokes the ball goalward. A block this time.
46' - KICK-OFF!
We're back underway for the second half here in Cologne with no changes for Germany during the break.
HALF-TIME!
Germany go ahead right before the half-time whistle blows through Draxler. The perfect way to end a relatively solid half for the hosts.
45+1' - GOAL! DRAXLER WITH THE FINISH!
A superb way to end the first half as Draxler opens the scoring from Havertz's outstanding pass on the break. It was a three-on-two situation for Germany and Havertz forced the ball forward to Draxler, who controlled well and held off a Turkish defender before dinking the ball over Günok to put Germany ahead at the break.
45' - ADDED TIME
Just one minute of added time at the end of this first half in Cologne.
41' - WALDSCHMIDT STRIKES ON!
Brandt latches onto a loose pass from Turkey and finds Waldschmidt in space. He turns and fires a low shot at goal, but Günok once again is on hand to palm the ball away. Brandt having a great first half here as well, the Dortmund midfielder. Dictating play going forward while also tracking back to snuff out counter-attacks.
35' - LOOKING FOR IDEAS
Despite Germany's dominance of the ball, openings in the Turkey defence have been hard to come by so far. Havertz is almost playing up front alongside Waldschmidt, with Draxler to the left and Neuhaus also in an advanced position. Former Leverkusen man Havertz has rarely been involved so far in this first half - a missing link in opening space and creating chances, perhaps.
32' - GERMANY ON TOP
The hosts are in control of most of the possession here, with Turkey working on the counter-attack and showing dangerous promise in the first half here. Chances for both sides have come and gone with both operating with plenty of changes to their teams this evening.
27' - HUGE CHANCES FOR GERMANY!
Brandt comes within inches of opening the scoring as he is found on the edge of the Turkey penalty area by Draxler and shoots low at goal on his left foot. It's heading for the bottom corner, but another superb save from Günok keeps it out. Schulz is onto the rebound at an angle to the left and fires the ball across the face of goal, with no Germany teammate in the right place to poke home.
24' - ANOTHER CHANCE FOR TURKEY
A training ground trick from the visitors sees a free-kick chipped over the Germany wall and into the penalty area. Tufal makes a good run, but doesn't connect with his shot on goal and Leno makes a comfortable save. The away side not letting anything happen easily for Germany so far. The intensity and pressing is high.
21' - SCHULZ SHOT!
The left wing-back finds himself in space at the back post after a cross from Havertz goes over everyone in the middle. Schulz controls and shoots at goal, but slices the ball just wide and into the side-netting of the Turkey goal.
18' - YELLOW CARD FOR RÜDIGER
The Chelsea defender is booked for a foul on Karaca early on.
15' - NEUHAUS HAS A GO
Some time and space from 25 yards out for Neuhaus to ping a shot at goal. His left-footed effort not troubling Günok in the Turkey goal, though.
11' - BIG BLOCK!
Turkey have a good chance as a free-kick is half-cleared by the German defence, but Karaca is onto the rebound and smashes the ball on target. Can is perfectly positioned to deflect the ball away though.
10' - DRAXLER FINDING SPACE
The captain for this evening is starting out on the left wing, but drifting into the centre when Germany push forward. That movement is causing some early problems for Turkey with Draxler getting on the ball around the edge of the visitor's box. More of that is welcome for Germany.
6' - GOOOO... NO!
Germany have the ball in the net as Waldschmidt is on the end of Henrich's low cross into the box. He meets the ball around the penalty spot with a half volley on his weaker right-foot, which is saved by Günok, and Draxler smashes home the rebound. Draxler, however, was offside when Waldschmidt's shot was taken.
5' - GETTING STARTED
It's Koch in the centre of the Germany defence this evening, with Brandt dropping deepest in midfield to get on the ball early on here. Turkey have been pressing well in the early goings and not allowing any time on the ball for the hosts who have five Bundesliga players in from the start this evening.
1' - KICK-OFF!
Germany get this game underway in Cologne on what is a chilly night at the RheinEnergieStadion. Let's see what Löw and his Germany side can produce this evening.
TIME TO FIND FORM
Both Germany and Turkey are looking for their first wins of 2020 after tonight's hosts drew two games last month, while Turkey lost to Hungary and drew with Serbia as well. Löw side looking to pick up that first victory of the calendar year ahead of the Nations League games coming up on Saturday and Tuesday.
MISSING NAMES
You may be wondering where the big names are for tonight's game? Manuel Neuer, Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Lukas Klostermann, Marcel Halstenberg and Toni Kroos will only feature in the Nations League games to earn some rest for this evening.
AIM FOR TONIGHT
Speaking to German TV before the game this evening, Löw has said he wants his side to be more clinical going forward - having scored only two goals in their last two games against Spain and Switzerland last month. Of course, it's also a chance for Henrichs, Schulz and Neuhaus to prove themselves and earn a potential start in the pair of upcoming Nations League games.
GERMANY TEAMS NEWS
It's a three-man defence for Löw tonight with Emre Can, Antonio Rüdiger and Robin Koch making up the backline. Ahead of them are starts for Benjamin Henrichs and Nico Schulz on either wing, with Florian Neuhaus earning his first senior cap alongside Julian Brandt. Meanwhile, Luca Waldschmidt leads the attack with captain Julian Draxler and Kai Havertz the closest in support.
WELCOME!
Hello and welcome along to our live coverage of Germany's international friendly match against Turkey in Cologne this evening. Joachim Löw has named his side - which you can see above - giving chances to a number of players to show what they're capable of ahead of Nations League games against Ukraine and Switzerland.
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