Slovakia stun Germany in friendly
AFP
AFP, BERLIN: An inexperienced Germany team suffered a self-confidence sapping 3-1 defeat to Slovakia in Sundays storm-affected friendly as the world champions fielded four new caps ahead of Euro 2016.
Slovakia, who will make their European championships debut in Group B alongside Wales, England and Russia next month, deserved their win in Augsburg as Germany coach Joachim Loew blooded a youthful quartet.
A heavy storm in Bavaria at half-time meant the break was extended to 39 minutes and it was Slovakia who profited from the soggy second-half conditions by adding their third goal.
Loew was more relieved that none of his players picked up injuries rather than bothered by the result.
I have never experienced such a long half-time break. The pitch wasnt undangerous and, thank god, nothing happened (injury wise), said Loew.
Combinations were impossible at the start of the second half.
We did well in the first half hour, but we had a few problems in defence.
You cant expect everything from the young players, but all four have the necessary quality.
Germany took an early lead when Mario Gomez converted a penalty, while goals from Marek Hamsik and Michal Duris just before half-time put Slovakia 2-1 up at the break.
A calamitous error by Germanys replacement goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen then gifted Slovakias Juraj Kucka the only goal of the second half.
Centre-back Jerome Boateng, who was at the centre of an off-field political storm after a right-wing politician said most Germans would not want to have him as a neighbour, was the only member of the Germany team who had started the World Cup final two years ago. Banners reading Jerome, move in next to us showed the feelings of most Germany fans.
Loew gave out two new caps in each half to goalkeeper Bernd Leno, 24, and defender Joshua Kimmich, 21, then 20-year-old midfielders Julian Weigl and Julian Brandt.
Schalkes Leroy Sane, also just 20, made only his second appearance in the attacking midfield role behind Gomez.
The hosts took the lead when Mario Goetze was fouled in the area and Gomez banged home the 13th-minute penalty.
Napoli attacking midfielder Hamsik made Slovakias first clear chance count by drilling home the equaliser on 40 minutes and his long-range shot gave Leno no chance on his debut.
The goal fired up the visitors who went ahead a minute before the break when striker Duris slipped his marker and floated his header past Leno.
The skies opened during the half-time break as torrential hail, then rain, pelted the pitch and the black clouds mirrored Loews dark scowls as he trudged off. The match resumed with pools of water on the surface and Slovakia profited from the deluge.
Kuckas speculative shot looked set to be gathered by Ter Stegen, on for Leno, only for the ball to roll between his legs on 52 minutes.
It was virtually identical to the own-goal the Barcelona shot-stopper leaked against the USA in Germanys 4-3 friendly defeat in Washington in June 2013.
Loew must now cut four names before submitting his 23-man squad for Euro 2016 before midnight on Tuesday while Slovakia coach Jan Kozak is set to name his on Monday.
We found it hard to get into the game, because we had a lot of respect, even a bit of fear of the world champions, said Kozak.
The Germans were better, until we shook them with our (first) goal.
The rain turned the second half into a fight and we fought better.
Germany have one more warm-up match, against Hungary in Gelsenkirchen on Saturday, the same day Slovakia host Northern Ireland in Trnava.
Germany play their first Euro 2016 match in Group C against Ukraine on June 12 in Lille, the day after Slovakia open their campaign against Wales in Bordeaux.
