Slovakia vs Germany – Match preview and team news

Both sides will be eager to get their campaign off to a winning start in Group A, which also features Northern Ireland and Luxembourg.

1. Date: Thursday, 4th September
2. Kick-off: 7:45pm BST.
3. Venue: Tehelné pole, Bratislava, Slovakia

Slovakia Team News

Slovakia’s squad is hit by several absences: Lukas Haraslin (groin), Denis Vavro (adductor surgery), Samuel Kozlovsky and Dominik Javorcek (injuries) are ruled out, while Ivan Schranz and Laszlo Benes are doubtful with stomach problems.

Francesco Calzona is expected to revert to a 4-3-3, with veteran right-back Peter Pekarik aiming for his 136th cap alongside midfield mainstay Stanislav Lobotka and striker Robert Bozenik.

Germany Team News

Germany are without Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Marc-André ter Stegen, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule, Benjamin Henrichs, Tim Kleindienst and Tom Bischof due to injury, as well as Nathaniel Brown, Max Rosenfelder and Nicolas Kuhn.

New call-ups Nnamdi Collins and Paul Nebel could feature, while Antonio Rüdiger returns alongside Angelo Stiller, Jamie Leweling and Nadiem Amiri. Florian Wirtz is pushing for the number 10 role, with Nick Woltemade challenging Niclas Füllkrug up front.

Nnamdi Collins from Eintracht Frankfurt and Mainz 05’s Paul Nebel have both received their first senior call-ups and are in line to make their debuts. Antonio Rudiger, alongside Angelo Stiller, Jamie Leweling, and Nadiem Amiri, returns to the senior squad, with the Real Madrid defender likely to start alongside Jonathan Tah at the heart of the defense.

Wirtz, Liverpool’s high-profile signing who has yet to register a goal contribution for his new club, is expected to start against Slovakia. Meanwhile, Newcastle United’s record signing Woltemade, who impressed with six goals in five matches at the recent European U21 Championship, looks set to earn another senior appearance as the frontman.

Form

Slovakia: WDLLL

Slovakia have lost their last three matches and will be eager use home advantage to try and cause an upset by defeating Germany and get three crucial points for qualification.

Germany: DWDLL

Germany are winless in their last three outings, drawing with Italy and losing to Portugal and France in the UEFA Nations League earlier this year.

Following their disappointment in that competition, Die Mannschaft will certainly look to maintain to get back on track in preparation for next year’s FIFA World Cup in North America.

Predicted lineups

Slovakia XI: Dubravka; Pekarik, Skriniar, Gyomber, Hancko; Duda, Lobotka, Bero; Schranz, Bozenik, Duris

Germany XI: Baumann; Raum, Tah, Rüdiger, Kimmich; Pascal Gross , Stiller; Gnabry, Wirtz, Adeyemi; Woltemade.

UK residents can watch the match on Amazon Prime Video.

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