Germany held by Euro2012 Co-hosts Poland

Euro2012 Co-hosts Poland held a weakened Germany to a two-all draw in an international friendly at the PGE Arena, a newly opened venue in Gdansk. For Poland it was an emotional game and a real test, while Germany tried out a few of their bench players.

Germany went into the game without Manuel Neuer, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mesut Özil; who all had been allowed to go back to their clubs by coach Joachim Loew as Germany started with seven new players in the starting line-up playing once more the new attacking 4-1-4-1 system.

And that did show though Germany had the better start into the game against a nervous Poland as the Mannschaft put initial pressure on the hosts. Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny came to his teams rescue on a number of occasions with striker Miroslav Klose being denied numerous times to give Germany the lead, while Poland focused more on counter-attacks with FC Cologne's Slawomir Peszko on the left beating Christian Träsch a number of times. It remained goalless at the break.

Things initially remained the same after the break with Germany having two quick chances, but Germany had a problem in falling back through the game which game the Polish side chances to attack and use the gaps. In one such situation in the 55th minute captain Jakub Blaszczykowski moved forward, played a through ball for Dariusz Dudka, who moved past keeper Tim Wiese but was brought down, still the referee allowed the advantage and Robert Lewandowski was there to push the ball in. Germany looked shocked, but Poland couldn't utilise the situation as their neighbours got back into the game when substitute Thomas Müller was brought down in the box for a penalty. Toni Kroos walked up to the spot and slotted home easily in the 68th minute.

Thereafter Germany could have taken the lead, but keeper Wojciech Szczesny got his hands to a brilliant Andre Schürrle shot, which he got onto the crossbar. Poland were reduced to ten men in the 81st minute when Arkadiusz Glowacki got his second yellow card of the night, but Poland fought on. In the last minute of the game keeper Tim Wiese brought down substitute Pavel Brozek, though it wasn't clear if it was a penalty or the striker went down cleverly. A minute into injury time Blaszczykowski scored from the spot and it looked as if Poland would score their first-ever win against Germany, but four minutes into injury-time Thomas Müller played a sharp ball from the right into the middle with Cacau there to push in. Referee Daniele Orsato didn't even restart the game as it ended two-all.


MATCH STATS

Poland 2-2 (0-0) Germany - Goals: 1-0 Robert Lewandowski (55'), 1-1 Toni Kroos (68' penalty), 2-1 Jakub Blaszczykowski (90+1' penalty), 2-2 Cacau (90+4')

PolandWojciech Szczesny - Macin Wasilewski, Damien Perquis (72' Kamil Glik), Arkadiusz Glowacki, Jakub Wawrzyniak - Rafal Murawski, Dariusz Dudka - Jakub Blaszczykowski [C] (90+3' Pawlowski), Adrian Mierzejewski (83' Rybus), Slawomir Peszko (65' Adam Matuschyk) - Robert Lewandowski (79' Pavel Brozek)

Germany
12-Tim Wiese - 15-Christian Träsch, 17-Per Mertesacker, 20-Jerome Boateng, 16-Philipp Lahm [C] (46' 2-Marcel Schmelzer) - 6-Simon Rolfes (77' 4-Lars Bender) - 9-André Schürrle, 19-Mario Götze, 18-Toni Kroos, 10-Lukas Podolski (60' 13-Thomas Müller) - 11-Miroslav Klose (46' 23-Cacau)
Unused Substitutes: 22-Ron Robert Zieler 3-Benedikt Höwedes, 5-Mats Hummels, 14-Holger Badstuber

Referee
Daniele Orsato (Italy)