Germany show class in 3-2 win against Brazil

In a match-up of former World Cup winners Germany emerged victorious with a 3-2 win against Brazil at the sellout Mercedes Benz Arena in Stuttgart last night. But the end result did not really reflect the game then Germany were not only deserving winners but often outplayed the Brazilians, and should have won by a bigger and clearer margin.



German Coach Joachim Loew rested Real Madrid stars Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira to start with seven players from record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich, while teenage sensation Mario Götze made his first start for Germany and only 27 year old captain Philipp Lahm was the oldest player in the starting eleven in a once more young Germany side.



Meanwhile Brazilian coach Mano Menezes also put a young starting squad together with captain Lucio at 33 the oldest player and returning to Germany where he has played for Bayer 04 Leverkusen and FC Bayern Munich.



The initiative from the start was with Germany, who put Brazil under pressure and the first chance of the night in the 6th minute fell for Götze after a long cross from the left by Lahm, he beat Andre Santos and keeper Julio Cesar just about made a block. Brazil tried their luck on the counter with Pato, Andre Santos and Neymar getting close to having chances but they lacked the necessary precision. Germany continued to have more of the ball but often their creative game ended at the edge of the box with the Brazilians defending well.



Things would change after the break. Brazil had the first chance, but Pato's chip would beat keeper Manuel Neuer and the German goal. Then just after the hour mark Lucio brought down Toni Kroos, referee Kassai showed to the spot and Bastian Schweinsteiger would send Julio Cesar into the wrong corner. The goal would give Germany added confidence too finish off their chances unlike in the first session were they lacked finishing.



In the 67th minute minute Götze would make it two nil after a clever pass from Kroos and Germany looked to be cruising, but in the 71st minute Lahm brought down Dani Alves and Robinho scored from the spot. Still Germany wasn't shocked and got their third goal of the night in the 80th minute as Schweinsteiger fought the ball back from Andre Santos and played the ball back for substitute Andre Schürrle to hammer in. Germany could have made it four, but in injury time Neymar reduced the deficit once more. It ended 3-2 for Germany with the crowd celebrating a memorable friendly win against the Brazilians, who have a lot of work to do until their home World Cup in 2014.





MATCH STATS



Germany 3-2 Brazil - Goals: 1-0 Bastian Schweinsteiger (61', pen), 2-0 Mario Götze (67'), 2-1 Robinho (71', pen), 3-1 Andre Schürrle (80'), 3-2 Neymar (90'+2')



Germany

1-Manuel Neuer; 15-Christian Träsch, 5-Mats Hummels (88' 20-Jerome Boateng), 14-Holger Badstuber, 16-Philipp Lahm [C]; 7-Bastian Schweinsteiger (86' 3-Simon Rolfes); 13-Thomas Müller, 8-Mario Götze (88' 19-Cacau), 18-Toni Kroos, 10-Lukas Podolski (46' 9-André Schürrle); 23-Mario Gomez (46' 11-Miroslav Klose)

Unused Substitutes: 12-Tim Wiese, 2-Benedikt Höwedes, 4-Dennis Aogo, 6-Ilkay Gündogan, 17-Marco Reus



Brazil

1-Julio Cesar; 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Lucio [C], 4-Thiago Silva, 6-André Santos; 5-Ralf, 8-Ramires (86' 15-Luis Gustavo), 11-Fernandinho (69' 20-Paulo Henrique Ganso), 7-Robinho (86' 18-Renato Augusto); 9-Alexandre Pato (77' 19-Fred), 10-Neymar

Unused Substitutes: Victor, Maicon, Dedé, Lucas Silva, Jonas