Preview: Poland vs. Germany - prediction, team news, lineups

Hansi Flick's side shook hands on a 3-3 stalemate with their Ukrainian counterparts last time out, while their hosts are warming up for a Euro 2024 qualifying battle with Moldova.

Match preview

Welcoming Euro 2016-winning coach Fernando Santos into their dugout with open arms, Poland's stint under the former Portugal boss did not get off to the best of starts, as the Eagles' bid to qualify for next year's continental championships commenced with a 3-1 loss to the Czech Republic in Group E.

There was little time for Santos to dwell on that opening defeat before Albania paid a visit to Stadion Narodowy three days later, but Poland rectified their Czech mistakes with a 1-0 win on March 27 courtesy of Karol Swiderski's first-half strike, allowing them to surge into the top two of the rankings at this embryonic stage.

With Moldova lying in wait four days after their tantalising battle with the Germans, a fifth successive appearance at the Euros is no less than the White-Reds faithful desire for their 23rd-ranked team, who held their own at the 2022 World Cup before an expected last-16 elimination at the hands of France.

Boasting youth and experience in equal measure, Poland enter Friday's game having gone unbeaten in each of their last six friendly matches since a 1-0 home loss in 2018 - which coincidentally also came against the Czech Republic - and it would not hurt Santos's side to take a leaf out of Ukraine's book.

Three months on from shipping three goals to Belgium in a pulsating friendly encounter, more lackadaisical defending came to the fore for Germany against Ukraine, who stepped foot onto the Weserstadion turf with the intention of spoiling Die Mannschaft's 1,000th game party.

Sergiy Rebrov's side were on course to do that before the hour mark, as a Viktor Tsygankov brace and Antonio Rudiger own goal cancelled out Niclas Fullkrug's opener, but as was the case against Costa Rica at the World Cup, Kai Havertz was the difference-maker off the bench.

The Chelsea forward reduced the deficit in the 83rd minute with a delightful finish before winning a last-minute penalty for Joshua Kimmich to convert, and while the six-goal spectacular was a terrific watch for the neutrals, Flick claimed that the result summed up the "state" of his leaky crop.

As Euro 2024 hosts, Germany only have friendly matches on their calendar in 2023, but Flick's men have just four wins to their name from their last 14 matches in all tournaments - keeping a mere two clean sheets in the process - and based on the goals they conceded against Ukraine, a few more lessons in passing out from the back would not go amiss.

However, history unsurprisingly favours Die Mannschaft, who have only ever lost once in 21 previous showdowns against Poland, although they have only beaten the Eagles in one of their last five games - drawing three of them and suffering that sole defeat in a Euro 2016 qualifying contest nine years ago.

Poland friendly form:

Poland form (all competitions):

D

W

L

L

L

W

Germany friendly form:

W

L

D

Germany form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

L

D

Team News

Poland boss Santos has lost Spezia left-back Arkadiusz Reca to a knee injury since naming his squad - hardly an ideal scenario with Aston Villa defender Matty Cash also sidelined - so Arsenal's Jakub Kiwior may be deployed out wide here.

Having experienced a significant downturn in fortunes since bursting onto the scene with Genoa, Salernitana striker Krzysztof Piatek is also out of the squad, although Poland's all-time leading scorer and appearance maker Robert Lewandowski was always expected to get the nod up front.

Despite previously finding success as a striker, Swiderski may be deployed in a deeper role once again, while Napoli's Bartosz Bereszynski was absent against Albania three months ago but will expect to line up on the right here.

Meanwhile, Germany boss Flick has vowed to move forward with a three-at-the-back system, and while such an experiment failed to pay dividends against Ukraine, the former Bayern Munich head coach should continue to persist with that formation, albeit with a couple of personnel changes.

Somewhat surprisingly, Fullkrug was taken off at half time on Monday alongside Nico Schlotterbeck, and the latter may now cede his place to Lukas Klostermann, while Havertz has surely done enough to force his way back in following another super-sub showing.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen could also wrestle the gloves off of Kevin Trapp, while Bayern protege Jamal Musiala should also be given the chance to strut his stuff in the middle, potentially in place of Julian Brandt.

Poland possible starting lineup:

Szczesny; Bereszynski, Bednarek, Wieteska, Kiwior; Swiderski, Linetty, Zielinski; Frankowski, Lewandowski, Zalewski

Germany possible starting lineup:

Ter Stegen; Klostermann, Ginter, Rudiger; Wolf, Kimmich, Musiala, Goretzka, Raum; Havertz, Fullkrug

We say: Poland 1-2 Germany

There will undoubtedly be a few teething problems along the way as Germany become accustomed to their new shape, but defending has been an issue for Die Mannschaft for a while now, and a striker as lethal as Lewandowski will no doubt make Flick's side pay.

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