Florian Wirtz sparkles in goal-filled Germany draw in Switzerland as Lennart Karl makes debut

Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany were left with plenty of pre-FIFA World Cup food for thought despite a 4-3 friendly win away to Switzerland on Friday, a game in which Bayern Munich teenager Lennart Karl made his senior debut.

Switzerland 3-4 Germany
Goals: 1-0 Ndoye 17’, 1-1 Tah 26’, 2-1 Embolo 41’, 2-2 Gnabry 45’+2, 2-3 Wirtz 61’, 3-3 Monteiro 79’, 3-4 Wirtz 86'

After an initial period of sparring, the game burst into life in the 13th minute when Kai Havertz played a one-two with Wirtz on the edge of the Switzerland area before firing straight at Gregor Kobel from close range after receiving the return pass.

From the resulting corner, Serge Gnabry appeared unmarked at the back post, but his shot struck Jonathan Tah and bounced clear.

Dan Ndoye showed them how it was done a few seconds later as Switzerland burst forward on the counter after Nico Schlotterbeck gave the ball away on the halfway line. The midfielder skipped into the box, went past Angelo Stiller and lashed the ball in off the near post from the left-hand corner of the six-yard box. 

Serge Gnabry, Joshua Kimmich and Germany had to rally after falling behind in Basel. - Alex Grimm

The home side’s lead was short-lived, though, as Tah thundered in the equaliser with a powerful back-post header from Wirtz’s cross.

Switzerland edged ahead once more shortly before the interval when Breel Embolo got the better of Tah to head in from Silvan Widmer’s right-wing cross, and they nearly made it 3-1 moments later, only for Fabian Rieder’s curling shot from 20 yards to strike the crossbar and bounce clear.

Instead, the teams went in level at 2-2 at the break after Gnabry latched onto Wirtz’s pass to level with the last kick of the half. 

Gnabry made it 2-2 with the last kick of the first half. - Alex Grimm

About the players

42

Lennart

Karl

Midfielder

FC Bayern München

The hosts made four changes at the break, which may have helped Germany enjoy a period of dominance. There were chances early on for Gnabry, Wirtz and Leon Goretzka, but none of them were able to make the visitors’ pressure count.

A moment of magic from Wirtz gave Germany the lead just after the hour mark, though. Receiving a short corner wide on the Germany left, he curled a sumptuous effort into the far corner, leaving Kobel with no chance.

Karl was brought on for his Germany bow shortly after that and was immediately involved, scampering down the right to tee up Goretzka, whose shot was blocked.

Joel Monteiro equalised for Switzerland with a fine long-range effort of his own, but Wirtz had the final say, capping a fine individual display with another curling shot into the corner to give Germany a 4-3 victory.

Wirtz's goal to put Germany 3-2 up was absolutely breath-taking. - IMAGO/Jan Huebner

As it happened!

3 - 4

(2 - 2)

Switzerland

FINAL

Germany

Friendly
International International St. Jakob-Park, Basel

Full-time: Switzerland 3-4 Germany

It was a back-and-forth game, but Germany have won it in the end, largely down to Wirtz, who produced a great display, scoring two stunners in the second half. Switzerland were ruthless with their chances, but in the end, Germany just had a little too much for the hosts.

© IMAGO/Herbertz / Nico Herbertz

Full-time

90'

Added time

We're going to have three additional minutes at the end of this one. Will we see another goal? It certainly can't be ruled out, given what we've seen so far.

Wirtz restores Germany's lead

And it is another superb finish! Karl almost creates an opening with some good dribbling, but Stach is eventually crowded out. Germany then recycle the ball, and Groß finds Wirtz on the edge of the box. He then whips a lovely curling finish into the corner to restore Germany's lead.

© IMAGO/Hansjürgen Britsch

85'

Florian Wirtz

GOAL!

3:4

80'

Substitution

Anton Stach

Leon Goretzka

80'

Substitution

Pascal Groß

Angelo Stiller

Another cracker!

Monteiro gets the ball near the edge of the area, spins Goretzka and unleashes a thunderbolt that flies into the far corner. Another superb hit!

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

79'

Joel Monteiro

GOAL!

3:3

78'

Substitution

Eray Cömert

Nico Elvedi

78'

Substitution

Vincent Sierro

Remo Freuler

78'

Substitution

Michel Aebischer

Dan Ndoye

75'

Goretzka denied

Karl bursts into the box and finds Goretzka, but his effort is blocked right in front of the goal.

74'

A couple more efforts

Wirtz has a go from a good position, but his effort is blocked. Schlotterbeck then tries his luck, but his effort is simple for Kobel.

70'

Woltemade heads just wide

Kimmich can continue, and he nearly gets himself an immediate assist. He whips in a delightful cross that Woltemade meets with his head, but the effort drops just wide.

67'

Treatment needed

Kimmich has taken a nasty blow and is down receiving treatment for a head wound. Hopefully, the Bayern man is okay. He caught an elbow from Manzambi in that last challenge.

63'

Karl makes his national debut

The Bayern teenager is on for his Germany debut. Can he make an impact in the remaining minutes?

63'

Substitution

Lennart Karl

Leroy Sané

63'

Substitution

Nick Woltemade

Kai Havertz

63'

Substitution

Joel Monteiro

Breel Embolo

62'

Substitution

Alvyn Sanches

Fabian Rieder

62'

Substitution

Aurele Amenda

Manuel Akanji

A stunning strike!

Germany catch the Swiss napping with a short corner. Gnabry feeds Wirtz, who has time on the edge of the box. He has a go with a cracking whipped effort and finds the top corner. What a strike!

© FABRICE COFFRINI

61'

Florian Wirtz

GOAL!

2:3

59'

Goretzka fires wide

The Bayern midfielder has found himself in a few good positions, and this time he shoots from the edge of the box, but he can't quite curl his effort on target.

55'

Lovely football and a good effort

Germany work the ball forward beautifully, leading to a good chance for Goretzka. Wirtz starts the move with a great bit of skill and finds Havertz. The visitors then recycle the ball out to the left, where Raum fires in a low cross that Goretzka can only poke narrowly wide. A few moments later, Wirtz has a go from range and misses the far corner by a few centimetres.

52'

A big chance goes begging

The Germany defence are caught high up the pitch after a corner, and Switzerland can counter. The ball is hooked long towards Manzambi, and he does well to outmanoeuvre Sané and get into the box, but he takes too long to square the ball, and Raum does well to recover.

47'

Gnabry almost gets his second

Gnabry is found at the back post by Goretzka, and he tries to poke the ball past Kobel, but the Dortmund goalkeeper stands up big to make the save.

46'

Substitution

Denis Zakaria

Silvan Widmer

46'

Substitution

Johan Manzambi

Ruben Vargas

46'

Substitution

Miro Muheim

Ricardo Rodriguez

46'

Substitution

Ardon Jashari

Granit Xhaka

46'

Back underway

The ball is moving once again in Basel.

Kick-off!

Half-time: Switzerland 2-2 Germany

And that Gnabry strike is the last kick of the half. That means we go into the break level, and that is probably fair given what we have seen so far. Germany have had more of the ball, but Switzerland have been superb when given space to work with. It's been an entertaining half of football, and it could certainly go either way in the second half.

© Alexander Hassenstein

Half-time

Gnabry levels the game once more

Stiller wins the ball and finds Wirtz. He then finds Gnabry rushing through the centre with a perfectly weighted pass, and the Bayern man loops the ball past the outrushing Kobel.

© IMAGO/Marc Schueler

45'

+ 2

Serge Gnabry

GOAL!

2:2

42'

Off the bar!

It's almost 3-1! Switzerland attack down the left again through Vargas. He takes too long to shoot, and Tah does well to make the challenge, but the ball drops to Rieder, who hammers a left-footed shot towards goal, only to see his superb effort bounce clear off the crossbar.

Embolo puts Switzerland back in front

Schlotterbeck loses the ball cheaply once more, and Germany are punished again. The hosts work the ball down the right before Widmer whips in a looping cross. Embolo is there in the centre, and he outmuscles Tah and heads home.

© IMAGO/JOERAN STEINSIEK

41'

Breel Embolo

GOAL!

2:1

36'

Havertz fires over

Sané slips the ball inside to Goretzka on the edge of the box, and he spins the ball around the corner to Havertz. The Arsenal man shuffles the ball onto his right and shoots from inside the box, but his effort flies over the bar.

32'

Havertz denied

Goretzka and Wirtz head the ball between each other before the former finds Havertz in an advanced position. He bursts forward towards the edge of the box before shooting, but Kobel is there to palm away the powerful effort.

Tah levels things up

Switzerland concede a corner after Akanji had done well to clear a dangerous Kimmich cross in front of Havertz, and from the resulting set-piece, Germany equalise. Wirtz plays the ball short to Kimmich, who returns the ball. Wirtz then whips in a cross to the back post, where Tah is waiting to head home.

© IMAGO/Jan Huebner

26'

Jonathan Tah

GOAL!

1:1

20'

Goretzka fires over

Raum gets in down the left and whips in a dangerous low cross that Kobel parries clear. Goretzka slides in to shoot, but he can only fire the ball over the bar from close range.

18'

Almost more danger

Rieder is free on the left this time, but his pass towards the centre of the box is swept up by Baumann.

Ndoye fires Switzerland ahead

Schlotterbeck loses the ball cheaply in midfield, and Kimmich is out of position. Xhaka spots Ndoye in plenty of space on the left in the absence of the Germany captain and finds him with a sweeping pass. The Nottingham Forest winger then darts into the box and hammers the ball home at the near post.

© FABRICE COFFRINI

17'

Dan Ndoye

GOAL!

1:0

16'

An opportunity at the other end

Switzerland get forward at pace for the first time tonight, and a dangerous cross from the right somehow avoids two Swiss attackers in the centre.

14'

Another good chance

From a Germany corner, Gnabry finds himself free to shoot on the volley at the back post after the initial cross is deflected. He shoots, but the effort is blocked shortly before the line.

13'

Best chance of the game

Havertz and Wirtz combine neatly down the right with the latter feeding the former on the six-yard box, but Havertz's effort is well saved by Kobel.

9'

An even start

Both sides have been exchanging passages of play in the opening 10 or so minutes, but just that one Sané effort to speak of so far.

3'

First opportunity

Gnabry pounces on a loose pass and finds Wirtz. He bursts forward into the box before finding Sané on the edge of the area, but his shot is blocked.

1'

We're underway

The ball is moving in Basel.

Kick-off!

Players on the pitch

Both nations are singing their national anthems before we get underway.

Kick-off fast approaching

Less than ten minutes until we get underway now. The players are finishing up their warm-ups before heading inside to finish their preparations.

An end to the wait?

Germany have not beaten Switzerland for 18 years, with tonight's hosts having avoided defeat in the previous four meetings.

More on that Switzerland team

The Swiss starting XI is full of Bundesliga and ex-Bundesliga talent. Kobel, Widmer, Elvedi and Rieder all currently play in Germany, whereas Akanji, Rodriguez, Xhaka, Vargas and Embolo have all had stints in the Bundesliga during their careers. Former Leverkusen stalwart Xhaka is the captain tonight.

© IMAGO/Bernd Feil/M.i.S.

More on that Germany team

Not too many surprises for tonight's visitors, given that Nagelsmann essentially named his starting XI at his press conference last night. Kimmich is at right-back, where he so often plays for the national team, and Goretzka and Stiller are in midfield. Perhaps the biggest surprise is Sané at right-wing, but the 30-year-old certainly has plenty of pedigree.

© IMAGO/Steffie Wunderl

Switzerland starting XI

Kobel – Widmer, Akanji, Elvedi, Rodriguez – Freuler, Xhaka (c) – Ndoye, Rieder, Vargas - Embolo

Switzerland subs

Keller, Mvogo, Amenda, Cömert, Jaquez, Muheim, Aebischer, Jashari, Manzambi, Monteiro, Sanches, Sierro, Sow, Zakaria, Okafor

Germany starting XI

Baumann - Kimmich (c), Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum - Goretzka, Stiller - Sané, Wirtz, Gnabry – Havertz

Germany subs

Dahmen, Nübel, Anton, Brown, Rüdiger, Thiaw, Vagnoman, Führich, Groß, Karl, Stach, Schade, Undav, Woltemade

Kick-off an hour away

Not long now until we get the official team news for tonight's clash.

Two years of 'Major Tom'

The song 'Major Tom' by Peter Schilling has had German football fans up and down the country bouncing for joy for just over two years now, having been trialled as the national team's official goal song for the first time on 26 March 2024 during a match between Germany and the Netherlands. After receiving a positive reaction, the song became Germany's official goal song in June 2024.

© Stuart Franklin

Neuer turns 40

He may no longer be a part of the Germany squad, but current Bayern number one and national team legend Neuer is celebrating his 40th birthday today. No doubt he'll be hoping his countryman can get the win today to add to his birthday celebrations.

© imago sportfotodienst

Nagelsmann not being coy on his line-up

The Germany boss revealed a multitude of his side's starters for tonight's fixture in yesterday's press conference. Those included were Havertz up front, Stiller and Goretzka in midfield and Tah and Schlotterbeck in defence. Baumann and Kimmich are also expected to start.

© IMAGO

Littler reveals favourite German player

Darts world champion and sporting sensation Luke Littler was asked his favourite German footballer ahead of Thursday's Premier League Darts event in Berlin, and responded by saying VfB Stuttgart's Angelo Stiller.

© IMAGO/Daniel Lakomski/Jan Huebner

Fitness key for Gnabry

"I'm in really good form at the moment and, for once, I've managed to stay fit throughout the entire season," explained Serge Gnabry, who's registered 20 goal involvements in 34 competitive games so far this season for Bayern. "That's something that’s often held me back in the past, which is why I'm really happy to finally be able to perform consistently over a longer period of time."

© IMAGO/Davide Elias

Nagelsmann on facing Switzerland

"Switzerland are an extremely strong side. They're very solid at the back, concede few goals, rarely allow their opponents chances, sit compactly behind the ball and defend relentlessly. They have a lot of players who are confident on the ball and a good mix of experienced and young players. They're a solid side with a good coach - they'll really test us."

© IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch

Stuttgart's Stiller to start

"Angelo [Stiller] will play alongside Leon [Goretzka] tomorrow," Nagelsmann revealed at his pre-match press conference on Thursday. "It's an unusual situation, with our two most consistent defensive midfielders currently out. We have to respond to that, and we decided to bring in a different profile of player in Angelo."

© IBRAHIM OT

Urbig out, Dahmen in

There'll be no senior international debut for Jonas Urbig against Switzerland or Ghana. The Bayern youngster has left the Germany camp with a knee problem, with Augsburg's Finn Dahmen called up in his stead. "Nothing serious, he could have continued training here with us as well – but I didn’t want to rush him. That doesn't help him, that doesn't help us, that doesn't help Bayern," Nagelsmann said of Urbig's injury.

© IMAGO/Pressefoto Rudel/Herbert Rudel

Kimmich on Karl

Kimmich said of his Bayern team-mate, called up for the first time: "He is someone who goes onto the pitch and is very, very brave. When Lenny comes on, he knows his strengths, and he looks for the chance to get a shot away. He has already helped us at Bayern, but he can also help us here."

© DFL/Getty Images/Reinaldo Coddou H.

Joshua Kimmich on the upcoming friendly matches

The Germany captain said: "We have to concentrate on what is directly ahead of us. We can't concentrate on the World Cup yet, and by then the squad will perhaps look a little different again. It is important to put in two positive games."

© IMAGO/Jerry Andre

Big number for Karl

18-year-old Lennart Karl has been given the number 25 shirt for the pair of internationals. Interestingly, the Bayern attacking talent (pictured above in action for Germany U21) has the chance of making his Germany debut with the same number Thomas Müller and Aleksandar Pavlović wore on theirs.

© IMAGO/Revierfoto

No ten for Germany

Germany announced their squad numbers for the matches against Switzerland and Ghana on Wednesday. Oliver Baumann takes the No.1 jersey, Kevin Schade will wear nine, while there is nobody named as No.10 for the international break - presumably to recognise the importance of injured playmaker Jamal Musiala.

© IMAGO/Moritz Mueller

No replacement for Leweling

Despite losing the winger to injury, Nagelsmann isn't planning on drafting in a replacement for the Switzerland clash. It means that Cologne winger Said El Mala will remain with the German U21 squad for their upcoming games against Northern Ireland and Greece.

© DFL/Getty Images/Pau Barrena

Nagelsmann on Pascal Groß's inclusion

“[Brighton manager] Fabian Hürzeler summed it up well...he [Groß] makes other players better. He has the gift of connecting players with one another. I see him as a magnet among the players, someone who has a good sense of who needs what at any given moment."

© IMAGO/Sebastian Räppold/Matthias Koch

Last time they met

Germany last played Switzerland at Euro 2024. The match, hosted at Eintracht Frankfurt's Deutsche Bank Park, ended in a 1-1 draw, with Niclas Füllkrug scoring for the host nation. The result ensured Germany would finish top of Group A on seven points.

© IMAGO/Maurizio Borsari

Leweling ruled out

Following the loss of Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlović to injury, Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling has also been forced to withdraw from the Germany camp. The 25-year-old is suffering from muscular problems in his calf and is now set to miss Germany's upcoming games against Switzerland and Ghana.

© IMAGO

New threads

Last week, Germany revealed their away kit for the summer's World Cup, which they will debut in Basel on Friday. The dark blue shirts are based on the team's traditional blue training tops.

© adidas

Stuttgart duo drafted in

Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlović have both dropped out of the squad due to injury, opening the door for Stuttgart pair Angelo Stiller and Chris Führich. They have been important parts of the Swabians' impressive form this campaign.

© IMAGO/HMB Media/Claus

Familiar faces

There are eight Bundesliga players in the Swiss squad, including Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and Freiburg's Johan Manzambi. All in all, 17 of their 26-man squad have played in the German top flight at some point during their careers.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Switzerland form

The Swiss, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last 10, with their most recent defeat coming against Spain in the UEFA Nations League in November 2024. At UEFA Euro 2024, they reached the quarter-finals before losing on penalties to England, so they will be a tough proposition here.

© IMAGO/Mateusz Slodkowski

Recent form

Germany have won each of their past five games, all in qualification for the FIFA World Cup as they booked their place at next summer's tournament. That came after a run of just one win in six, though, so there is still some work to do in terms of consistency.

© IMAGO/Michael Taeger

2:05

Watch: Undav's first 11 goals of the season

Undav on fire

VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav has received his first call-up since last summer's UEFA Nations League finals after some scintillating form this term. Only Harry Kane has scored more than his 17 goals in the Bundesliga, while he has 23 goals in all competitions - more than any other player in this squad.

© IMAGO/Eduard Martin

Nmecha out

While in action for Borussia Dortmund against Hamburg at the weekend, Felix Nmecha suffered a ligament injury that will keep him out of action for several weeks, the Black-Yellows have confirmed. As such, he will be unavailable for Germany during this international break.

© Imago

The setting

This clash will be played at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Germany have played there four times, winning twice, losing once and drawing once.

© IMAGO/Priscila Bütler / SPP

0:56

Watch: Kompany on Karl and Urbig call-ups

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany discussed maiden call-ups for duo Jonas Urbig and Lennart Karl.

The full squad

Tale of the tape

These nations have a rich history of facing each other, having met on no fewer than 53 occasions. Germany have the clear upper hand, winning 35 of those encounters and losing just nine. They have, however, failed to win any of the last four clashes.

© IMAGO/Jan Huebner

World Cup preparations

This is the first of four games Germany have lined up ahead of their opening game at the FIFA World Cup against Curaçao on June 14th. After this encounter with Switzerland, they will host Ghana on Monday 30 March, before encounters with Finland and the USA in the build-up to the tournament.

© IMAGO

Welcome!

Follow all of the build-up and live action from Germany's international friendly with Switzerland on Friday (kick-off: 8.45pm CET).