27′ GOAL! GERMANY 3-0 LATVIA! This game’s over as a contest already, if it ever was one. Gnabry sends Gosens towards the byline and the wing-back cuts the ball back. It finds Muller who taps in from just outside the six-yard box. This is too easy for Germany.
27′ Assist Robin Gosens
25′ Germany nearly make it 3-0! Gosens has plenty of time to pick his cross from the left and find his counterpart Kimmich to the right of the box. Kimmich looks to find the far bottom corner but puts too much power on the shot, sending it wide.
23′ Germany have been coasting through this game so far. Latvia haven’t managed to conjure a shot yet.
21′ GOAL! GERMANY 2-0 LATVIA! Gundogan makes it 2-0 in no time at all! The Manchester City man picks up a rebound and curls a shot into the top corner from outside the box.
19′ That was some lovely play by Havertz to make the goal. He knew where Gosens was heading and beat Fjodorovs easily to find him.
19′ GOAL! GERMANY 1-0 LATVIA! Germany take the lead with a fine goal. Gosens plays in Havertz to his left and immediately runs towards goal. Havertz makes the return pass and Gosens lashes the ball into the top left corner.
19′ Zjuzins picks up the game’s first yellow card for tugging down Gundogan when a Latvia attack breaks down.
17′ Havertz drifts out to the left to fizz the ball inside to Muller near the penalty spot. Muller snatches at the chance and fires wide.
15′ Muller strays offside as Germany look to build their next attack. The World Cup winner looks to the sky in frustration.
13′ Kroos swings in a promising cross from deep that bounces through to Gnabry at the far post. Gnabry stretches to reach it but is unable to test Ozols.
11′ Kimmich fizzes in a low cross from the right which Latvia clear. The ball comes back to Kimmich and this time he wins a throw-in. Havertz latches onto the loose ball to knock it out for a corner but the Chelsea man has strayed offside
9′ Germany are biding their time. They have no reason to rush. Latvia have everyone back in their half to make the hosts’ lives difficult. Kroos’ speculative effort is blocked.
7′ Kimmich gets down the right and looks for a teammate but the Bayern Munich player’s pass is cut out.
5′ As you’d expect Germany are getting settled on the ball. Latvia’s game will be one of resistance and countering when they can.
3′ Germany keep the pressure on from the corner as Gundogan’s shot from distance is blocked. Gundogan moves the ball left to Havertz who drags his effort across goal and out for a goal-kick. The hosts have made a strong start.
1′ Germany nearly score seconds after the kick-off! Ginter gets down the right and crosses for Muller who shoots from the centre of the box. Latvia’s goalkeeper Ozols makes a decent save to hand Germany an early corner.
1′ Germany get this friendly underway!
The two teams come out on the pitch in Dusseldorf and stand for their countries’ respective national anthems. Germany will play in their usual white and black, Latvia in their preferred red and white.
This shouldn’t really be anything other than a victory for Germany. The Germans aren’t the World Cup winners of 2014 anymore but they should still have the quality to see Latvia off. Latvia did draw 3-3 with Turkey in Istanbul in their World Cup qualifying group back in March though. They’re no mugs.
There are four changes to Germany from their draw with Denmark. Rudiger, Gundogan, Kroos and Havertz start. Latvia make just the two changes from their win over Lithuania. Fjodorovs and Ikaunieks come into the team.
SUBS: Alvis Jaunzems, Igors Tarasovs, Vladislavs Sorokins, Elvis Stuglis, Raimonds Krollis, Krisjanis Zviedris, Aleksejs Saveljevs, Rihards Matrevics, Renars Varslavans, Raivis Kirss, Vitalijs Maksimenko, Kaspars Dubra.
LATVIA (4-2-3-1): Roberts Ozols; Vladislavs Fjodorovs, Antonijs Cernomordijs (c), Marcis Oss, Raivis Andris Jurkovskis; Eduards Emsis, Kriss Karklins; Arturs Zjuzins, Davis Ikaunieks, Andrejs Ciganiks; Roberts Uldrikis.
SUBS: Niklas Sule, Christian Gunter, Kevin Trapp, Jamal Musiala, Jonas Hofmann, Florian Neuhaus, Bernd Leno, Robin Koch, Emre Can, Leroy Sane, Timo Werner, Kevin Volland.
GERMANY (3-4-3): Manuel Neuer (c); Matthias Ginter, Mats Hummels. Antonio Rudiger; Joshua Kimmich, Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gundogan, Robin Gosens; Kai Havertz, Thomas Muller, Serge Gnabry.
Latvia shouldn’t cause Germany too much trouble despite beating Lithuania 3-1 in their first Baltic Cup match a few days ago. Dainis Kazakevics’s team won’t be at Euro 2020 and haven’t had the chance to face such high-ranked opposition for some time. The visitors will be keen to make an impression nonetheless.
Germany host Latvia for their final match before Euro 2020 and Joachim Low’s last ever friendly as Germany boss. After drawing 1-1 with Denmark in Austria last week, Low will want to see a morale-boosting win so his side can go into the tournament on a high.
Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this international friendly between Germany and Latvia at Merkur Spielarena, Dusseldorf.
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