Germany Plays Textbook Soccer - Defeats the Netherland 3-0

The 2nd ranked Netherlands met 3rd ranked European club Germany in a Friendly.  Germany wasted litttle time to start dominating the match.   Jogi Loew decided to go with just one striker and gave Miroslav Klose the nod over Mario Gomez.  The decision paid off.  There was excellent interaction between Klose, Mueller and Ozil.  Ozil was involved in every goal. Germany defeated the Netherlands 3-0

After testing each other for the first few minutes of the match, Germany dominated quickly in the first half .   With quick counters especially with good combinations from Mueller to Oezil and then Klose, the Dutch defence was often overburdened during the first half.   Snijder, who picked up a yellow card, mostly out of frustration, was able to direct the team of the Dutch offence.  At the end of the first 45, the 2-0 German lead humbled the Netherlands.

Thomas Mueller scored the first goal after just 15 minutes into the match when a long pass by Toni Kroos from the left side to Klose, who took his time and pushed the ball to the penalty spot, where Mueller moved onto the ball and pushed it into the corner of the net.  1-0 lead for Germany was perfect.

Klose made it 2-0 for Germany in the 26th minute.  Picture perfect passes and a soccer textbook goal showed the class of the German side.  Mueller moves on the ball on the move  and passes it on the right flank.  Ozil one times it in the direction of the 16 metre area to Klose, who anticipated the ball and heads the ball into the net.  This was Klose's 63rd international goal. 

The score remained at 2-0 at the 45.  Hummels comes into the match replacing Badstuber at the start of the second half.

The Dutch came out a little more determined in the second half, but the German side continued to play brilliant soccer.  Oezil made it 3-0 in the 66th minute.   Klose picks up the ball on the right side and passes it to Mueller who takes a few steps and passes it to Ozil, who makes a perfect delivery to Klose and then back to Ozil, who easily puts it into the net.

Overall Germany had a convincing victory.  The defence was solid and Loew's decision to work with one striker paid off.  Germany is in a good position prior to start the European Championship.  No doubt, this victory will give it the confidence to succeed.  

Starting Line Ups (Brackets indicate age followed by caps)

Germany-1 Neuer/Bayern München (25 Jahre/25 Länderspiele) - 20 Boateng/Bayern München (23/19), 17 Mertesacker/FC Arsenal (27/79), 14 Badstuber/Bayern München (22/18), 4 Aogo/Hamburger SV (24/9) - 18 Kroos/Bayern München (21/24), 6 Khedira/Real Madrid (24/24) - 13 Müller/Bayern München (22/25), 8 Özil/Real Madrid (23/30), 10 Podolski (26/95) - 11 Klose/Lazio Rom (33/113)

The Netherlands 1 Stekelenburg/AS Rom (29/44) - 2 van der Wiel/Ajax Amsterdam (23/29), 3 Heitinga/FC Everton (28/74), 4 Mathijsen/FC Malaga (31/78), 5 Braafheid/1899 Hoffenheim (28/10) - 6 van Bommel/AC Mailand (34/73), 8 Strootman/PSV Eindhoven (21/10) - 7 Kuyt/FC Liverpool (31/84), 10 Sneijder/Inter Mailand (27/80), 11 Babel/1899 Hoffenheim (24/42) - 9 Huntelaar/Schalke 04 (28/49)

Germany's National Side 3-3 Draw in Friendly Against Ukraine

Just under 70,000 spectators cheered on the Ukraine in the new stadium in Kiev, as the Ukrainian side took and early lead against Germany's DFB Team "Die Mannschaft".  Eventually the German side managed a 3-3 draw after 3-1 deficit in the first half.

Jogi Loew, the German side's coach had a dilemma for this friendly.  His midfield director, Bastian Schweinsteiger, is out, due to a broken collar bone, at least until aft the Christmas break.  Lahm, team captain and Manuel Neuer were given well deserved rests and Miroslav Klose was also out due to injury.  The game gave Loew the opportunity to experiment with the team.

Andriy Yarmolenko opened the scoring for the Ukraine in the 28th minute. The second Ukrainian goal came just nine minutes later when German defender Mat Hummels lost possession just outside the Ukrainian penalty area and a 70 meter counter Yevhen Konoplianka resulted in the Ukraine's second goal.  The surprise was complete.

Toni Kroos, who played an impressive game, despite the absence of Lahm, Mueller and Schweinsteiger, narrowed the score to 2-1 in the 39th minute, restoring hope for the German side.  
However the Ukrainian side was not deterred.  Zieler had to reach behind him for third time, in his national side debut, when Serhiy Nazarenko, took a precise pass from Shevchenko and put a curling shot into the net from just outside the 16 metre area, one minute into extra time.

The second half started with a 3-1 deficit for the German side.  Loew substituted Rolfes and Schuerrle into the game, however he stuck withe the first half formation with three defenders.  Early in the second half Shevchenko almost put the game out of reach for the German side, when he just fired wide of the German net.

Twenty minutes into the second half Rolfes narrowed the score to 3-2 and Loew reenforced his attack by bringing Thomas Mueller and Lukas Podolski on the field.  Mueller did not disappoint and got the equalizer in the 78th minute with a shot well out from the lefts side, putting the ball just inside the right goal post.

While many errors were made by the German side, the comeback showed the class of the German side, which was able to bounce back and at least equalize. Zieler's debut was a little disappointing for him personally, but it takes a whole team to defend.  He made several good safes in the second half.  The German defence, at times, seemed like an open book, permitting quick counters by the Ukraine.

While the back three played relatively well, they were often too far forward and caught off guard by the quick counters.  Two of the Ukraine goals were achieved after corner kicks.

Germany, rated third in World soccer, meets the Netherlands, rated second, on Tuesday.  Juergen Loew is sure to make some changes and will in all likelihood go back to a 4-4-2 system. Miroslav Klose may be available and Manuel Neuer should be back in the net.  Mueller, Kroos, Gotze and Ozil are sure to feed the strikers, Gomez and Klose.