International Friendlies
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Played
November 15, 2011 7:45 PM GMT
Imtech Arena — Hamburg
Referee:‬ C. Çakιr‎
Attendance:‬ 56000‎
 
15′ Thomas Müller
 
26′ Miroslav Klose
 
66′ Mesut Özil
 
 
Straightforward win for Germany here in Hamburg. Neuer was barely tested for the entire match, while up front, the tandem play of Muller, Ozil and Klose was a joy to watch. Bert van Marwijk has some concerns after tonight's game, because many of his stand in players did not look up for the task. We've got a lot more planned here at Goal.com post-match, including the full time report, player ratings and reactions from both camps, so stay tuned! That's my cue for an exit, from me, Keeghann Sinanan, its been a pleasure!
 
90′ +2
That's it, we have full time!
 
90′ +1
Last attack as Gotze advances down the left, attempts to cut in but is crowded out.
 
90′ +1
Germany running out the clock in complete control, stroking the ball back and forth at will.
 
90′
Two minutes of injury time...
 
89′
Aogo is outpaced briefly by WIjnaldum, but recovers well to regain possession. From the resulting attack, Muller is caught offside by about a yard from Rolfes' ball.
 
88′
Substitution Dirk Kuyt Georginio Wijnaldum
 
88′
Substitution Sami Khedira Lars Bender
 
87′
Substitution Wesley Sneijder Luuk de Jong
 
87′
And that's Sneijder's last contribution as he, along with Kuyt make way for de Jong and Wijnaldum. Meanwhile Khedira is withdrawn for Bender.
 
86′
Another long crossfield prayer from Sneijder that is cut out by the German defence. The inter man has shown his quality in glimpses today, but there has been no endeavor in orange around him to play off
 
84′
Beerens charges down the right, and squeezes in an awkward cross that tricks Neuer into conceding a corner. Which, surprise surprise, comes to nothing.
 
82′
Substitution Toni Kroos Simon Rolfes
 
82′
Substitution Miroslav Klose Marco Reus
 
82′
Off goes the impressive Kroos and the immense Klose for Rolfes and Reus respectively
 
81′
The tempo has slowed down even more now. The damage has long been done, and my guess is we won't see too much added time with this result done and dusted.
 
78′
Corner for Germany, played towards Mertesacker who cannot get enough on it. How can someone 6 foot 6 inches consistently fail to generate any power on his headers is beyond me.
 
76′
Substitution Klaas-Jan Huntelaar Roy Beerens
 
76′
Off goes Huntelaar, who could not have been more anonymous even without his protective mask. On comes Beerens
 
74′
Finally something from the Dutch. Babel cuts in from the left but curls his finish right into the keeper's arms.
 
73′
Muller again gets free down the right, but his attempted cross to Klose is taken on the backside by Mathijsen.
 
71′
Again, the Dutch attack completely breaks down every time they get within 45 yards of Neuer's goal. Out of sync, no movement, completely opposite to what we've seen from Low's charges this evening.
 
69′
That has awakened the fans here in Hamburg. Another fantastic piece of combination play between Muller, Klose and Ozil. A joy to watch, but Holland made it too easy.
 
66′
Goal Mesut Özil
3-0, GAME OVER!!!! What a move from Germany again! Muller advances down the right, and feeds Ozil on the penalty spot. The Real Madrid man then plays a one-two with Klose for an easy finish. Almost too easy!
 
65′
Substitution Jerome Boateng Benedikt Höwedes
 
65′
Substitution Lukas Podolski Mario Götze
 
65′
Gotze on for Podolski and Howedes for Boateng.
 
64′
Substitution Kevin Strootman Nigel De Jong
 
64′
De Jong on, Strootman off. Again, the Dutch have no real match-winners on their bench, and may just be looking towards full time already.
 
62′
Ozil dwells on the ball at the corner of the Dutch area for a few seconds, and tees up Klose for a 18-yarder that forces Stekelenburg into a diving, but comfortable catch,
 
60′
Muller! Kroos crosses towards him just to the right of the D, and he hits a volley with his left foot that looked to be caught perfectly, but ends up being launched into orbit.
 
59′
Fun fact - Holland have drawn their last seven away friendlies, their last win coming against Austria in 2008. That streak looks like being broken for the worse here today, because Van Marwijk's boys have been nothing short of toothless.
 
58′
Now Klose gets the ball at the top of the box. A pocket of space somehow opens up for him, but he can only shoot straight into the keeper's arms. Disappointing.
 
57′
Sneijder tries a first-time ball into the patch of the onrushing Babel on the left, but Neuer rushes out to catch the ball just on the edge of his area.
 
55′
First chance in ages for Holland, and it's only a half-chance really. Sneijder gains possession about 30 yards from goal, fires towards goal but sees his shot bounce a foot wide.
 
54′
Slow start to the second half. Holland have been lethargic in possession, while Germany's final ball has been off. Even the crowd seem in a slight stupor.
 
52′
Another long ball from the German half finds Ozil in some space in the box, but surprisingly, his first touch lets him down and Holland clear.
 
51′
Whistles here from the home fans as Germany can't get the ball off the Netherlands. It's not like the Dutch are doing anything with it though, barely coming within 50 yards of Neuer's goal.
 
50′
Germany break with purpose again. Muller sprints and collects a long punt from defence on the right, and tees up Kroos at the top of the box. However, his resulting effort is sent high into the stands
 
48′
Kroos commits a foul on Kuyt in the centre circle, giving Holland a chance to initiate their attack from a more advanced position - they've been stroking it around in their own half so far.
 
46′
Substitution Holger Badstuber Mats Hummels
 
46′
We're underway again, and there's been one change at the half - Hummels coming on for Badstuber
 
 
For Germany, it has been an impressive attacking display, in addition to their solid defensive effort. Muller and Ozil have been on song in attacking midfield, and Klose looks like he's got more goals in him tonight. The Lazio striker just fits so much better as the lone frontman for the national side then the profligate Gomez. Second half in just a bit!
 
 
Germany completely in control here at the Imtech Arena. This, in all honesty is not the strongest Dutch lineup, but the likes of Braafheid and Babel have not made convincing arguments for a starting berth. A glance at the Dutch bench doesn't exactly provide confidence of a game-changer either.
 
45′ +1
The ref has seen enough for one half, and blows the whistle for the interval after only a few seconds of added time!
 
45′
Oh dear. Sneijder sends the resulting free kick laughably high and wide.
 
44′
Yellow Card Miroslav Klose
 
44′
Heitinga now with an enterprising charge out of defence, and forces Klose to trip him about 35 yards from goal. Yellow for the striker
 
42′
Germany just look so much more confident when attacking. Ozil is fed on the right again, he shifts to his favored left foot and sends in another delicious ball, but Heitinga heads it away.
 
41′
Klose inches away! Mesut Ozil is productive on the right again, finding enough space to sent a low cross across the face of goal, which is about half a foot off the outstretched boot of the Lazio man!
 
39′
Aogo wants to get in on the act now. He charges down the left and lets fly from all of 40 yards. I'll let you guess how that one turned out.
 
37′
The game has settled into a comfortable pace since the second goal, which will suit Jogi Low just fine. Holland in truth haven't shown much so far in terms of attacking endeavor, with the likes of Van Persie and Van der Vaart sorely missed.
 
35′
Close for Klose! A deep free kick is sent into the aerial domain of the striker, but he cannot connect cleanly on his header and it dribbles over the line for a goal kick.
 
33′
The crowd has been in good spirits since the second goal. We can see the difference in defensive solidity from the Germans with a flat back four, as anyone who witnessed the first half in Kiev on Friday will attest to.
 
30′
Sneijder with another good ball into space, releasing Babel into the area. He tries to tee up Kuyt for a tap in but Mertesacker and Badstuber just manage to crowd out the shot.
 
27′
That was a header right out of the vintage Klose collection, placed perfectly inside the post (although Stekelenburg didn't make much effort to save it). Great goal, but what will be the Dutch response?
 
26′
Goal Miroslav Klose
2-0 TO THE GERMANS!!!!! Another brilliant move involving three players that carve Holland apart! Muller drives through the middle and picks out Ozil on the right flank, and the Real Madrid man's lofted cross is met with precision by the head of Klose!!
 
26′
Huntelaar releases Babel towards the right byline, but he takes too long to sort out his feet and his cutback is deflected for a corner. From Sneijder's deliver, Kuyt gets a boot on it but sends it about an inch wide
 
25′
Podolski wins a corner after almost overlapping down the left, but Mathijsen clears the set-piece with an acrobatic diving header.
 
23′
Free kick about 40 yards from goal by Ozil meets the head of Mertesacker, but he loops a header tamely into the air for an easy grab by the keeper
 
21′
Now Holland break, Sneijder feeds Babel on the right side of the penalty area, but his attempted curler inside the far post is harmlessly off target.
 
20′
Yellow Card Wesley Sneijder
 
19′
Van Bommel with a hefty challenge in the middle of the park against Khedira, but the ball back to Stekelenburg is almost closed down by Klose
 
17′
Make no mistake, that was a well worked goal by the Germans. They have kept up a decent spell of pressure in the Dutch half since then, and Holland need to reorganize.
 
15′
Goal Thomas Müller
GERMANY BREAK THE DEADLOCK!!! A long searching diagonal ball from Kroos on the left finds Klose in an inch of space, he hits a first time side-foot pass into the path of the onrushing Muller, who finishes with aplomb!
 
12′
Babel feeds Sneijder just outside the 18 yard area, he lets fly but his effort flies about a foot or two over the bar
 
9′
We are starting to see more from the Germans. Ozil and Muller combine well, showing great teamwork, but Klose can't be picked out.
 
8′
Germany try to get something going in the Dutch half. Muller advances and feeds Khedira near the top of the box, but he is blocked off before any real danger occurs
 
6′
Now Braafheid's early cross is met by the head of Huntelaar, but the striker is ruled offside as he nods the ball wide of the far post.
 
4′
Opening for the Dutch as a stumble by Mertesacker allows Babel to run through on the left, but his shot grazes the fingertips of Neuer as it flashes wide.
 
3′
Germany controlling possession in the early stages as both sides settle into the game
 
1′
And here we go!!!!
 
 
We're just about ready to get underway in Hamburg...
 
 
Meanwhile, Bert van Marwijk has opted to change a few names from their 0-0 draw with the Swiss last week, with the likes of Strootman, and Van Bommel starting. Also, in a rare and encouraging instance of club/nation cooperation, van Marwijk has accepted Arsene Wenger's request to rest Arsenal star Robin van Persie for this one.
 
 
Jogi Low has decided to ditch the experimental 5-2-2-1 that saw decidedly mixed results in their 3-3 thriller with Ukraine on Friday. International mainstays like Klose, Mertesacker, Neuer, Podolski and Muller have returned to the starting XI and a standard 4-2-3-1 formation to give tonight's Germany side a more familiar feel.
 
 
Netherlands (4-2-3-1): Stekelenburg; Van der Wiel, Heitinga, Mathijsen, Braafheid; Van Bommel, Strootman; Kuyt, Sneijder, Babel; Huntelaar Subs: Krul, Vorm, Boulahrouz, Vlaar, Anita, Schaars, N. de Jong, L. de Jong, Wijnaldum
 
 
Germany (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Boateng, Mertesacker, Badstuber, Aogo; Khedira, Kroos; Muller, Ozil, Podolski; Klose. Subs: Wiese, Zieler, Hummels, Howedes, Trasch, Rolfes, Reus, L. Bender, Cacau, Gotze, Gomez
 
 
Welcome to Goal.com's live coverage of the big international friendly between Germany and the Netherlands! I'm Keeghann Sinanan and I'll be bringing you all the action blow by blow this evening. Lineups to follow shortly...
 
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra Ashraf Nu'man Alfawaghra
Midfielder
Al Faisaly Amman 		4 1
Andreas Cornelius Andreas Cornelius
Striker
Copenhagen 		4 1
Mikael Forssell Mikael Forssell
Striker
HJK Helsinki 		3 1
Fred Fred
Striker
Fluminense 		3 0
Felipe Caicedo Felipe Caicedo
Striker
Lokomotiv 		3 0