WHAT A MISS! That should have been the equaliser! Al Jassim raced clear in the area and looked all set to snatch a draw but, at the vital moment, he elects to pass and try and set up Al Sahlawi. There are appeals for a penalty as Hummels bundles into Saudi Arabia’s forward, but there is nothing doing for the referee.
90' +1
Abdullah Al Khaibari enters the game and replaces Salman Al Faraj.
A final change from Saudi Arabia as Salman Al Faraj is replaced by Abdullah Alkhaibari.
90'
What a chance! That should have been a third for Germany, as Brandt played a great cross into the feet of Gomez, who somehow failed to turn it in from five yards out!
89'
Hussain Al Moqahwi gets yellow.
That's cynical from Al Mogahwi, who goes into the book for a foul on Gundogan.
87'
Hatan Bahbri enters the game and replaces Salem Al Dawsari.
Salem Al Dawsari has put in a decent display down the flanks for Saudi Arabia, and his race is now run. Hattan Babhir will come on for the closing stages.
84'
Taisir Al Jassim has scored a goal for Saudi Arabia! Assist by Mohammad Al-Sahlawi.
Penalty saved by M. ter Stegen!
Al Sahlawi will be credited with an assist, having nudged the ball back into the path of Saudi Arabia's goalscorer.
MISS! Al Sahlawi misses the penalty, with Ter Stegen making a fine stop.
GOAL FOR SAUDI ARABIA! Al Sahlawi's spot-kick was well saved by Ter Stegen, but Al Jassim - who won the penalty in the first place - is on hand to hammer home the rebound and set up a potentially nervy finish for Germany.
83'
Ali Al Bulayhi enters the game and replaces Osama Hawsawi.
Osama Hawsawi has also gone off, with Ali Albulayhi coming on.
PENALTY TO SAUDI ARABIA! Al Jassim does well to draw a clumsy tackle from Khedira and, although it was soft, a spot-kick is awarded.
81'
M. Ginter enters the game and replaces J. Kimmich.
Yet another change from Germany. Joshua Kimmich has been as impressive as ever down the right, and he has now gone off, with Matthias Ginter coming on. A centre-back by trade, he'll be tasked with filling in at full-back for the final few minutes.
80'
Neat work from Saudi Arabia sees Al Shehri find enough space down the right to turn a decent cross back to the onrushing Al-Burayk, but the midfielder’s effort is blocked by several Germany defenders. Moments later, Hector sets up Brandt in the area, but Omar Hawsawi gets across on the cover.
Minute
Description
77'
CHANCE! Just like Gundogan before him, Brandt has spurned a great opportunity to make an immediate impact. The ball found him in space at the back post, but the winger could not adjust his feet quickly enough to tuck in on the half-volley.
75'
Hussain Al Moqahwi enters the game and replaces Abdullah Otayf.
There's another change as well for the visitors - Abdullah Otayf making way for Hussain Al Mogahwi.
74'
J. Brandt enters the game and replaces T. Müller.
Here is the local boy. Julian Brandt is on, replacing Thomas Muller, who has put in a typically solid display in Germany’s attack.
72'
Al Dawsari is released down the left, but despite having plenty of space to run into, can’t manage to shirk off Sule, who then timed his challenge to perfection to force the ball wide.
69'
With Werner and Reus having both gone off, Germany certainly lack some pace in the final third, and the home crowd is rather flat at the moment. Low still has Brandt – the young Bayer Leverkusen winger preferred to Sane – available, and should look to give the forward a chance in the closing stages.
67'
The glut of changes has certainly disrupted the flow of this game, with Germany losing quite a bit of rhythm and struggling to find any momentum. That is allowing Saudi Arabia to push forward, with Al Shehri having just lobbed a strike over the crossbar from around 20 yards out.
64'
Almost a goal for Al Sahlawi with his first touch, as the forward looks to turn home a cross from the left. Ter Stegen had read the situation though, and rushed off his line to gather the ball in.
62'
M. Gómez enters the game and replaces T. Werner.
Mohammad Al-Sahlawi enters the game and replaces Fahad Al Muwallad.
Fahad Muwallad's night is over. The striker has worked hard without any reward, and he has now made way for Mohammad Al Sahlawi.
Another switch for Germany, too. Timo Werner was excellent in the first half, but veteran forward Mario Gomez - who is now back at Stuttgart in the Bundesliga - given a chance to impress.
61'
CLOSE! Al Dawsari shows some quick footwork to craft space for a shot on the edge of the box, but with just the goalkeeper to beat, the winger fluffs his lines, sending his effort wide and into the advertising boards.
60'
CHANCE! Well, Gundogan could have turned the crowd back in his favour then, and perhaps should have done! He picked up the ball in acres of space six yards out, but failed to get the better of Al-Mayoof, who desperately collects the ball at the second attempt.
57'
İ. Gündoğan enters the game and replaces M. Reus.
A third change from Germany, which sees Marco Reus make way for his former Borussia Dortmund team-mate Ilkay Gundogan. The midfielder comes on to some whistles from the home crowd, following a controversial post the Manchester City man made regarding a meeting with the Turkish president recently. Low does not appear happy with the crowd.
55'
Great play in the final third from the hosts, as the ball is worked down the left channel and into Muller on the edge of the area. The Bayern man has his club-mate Kimmich free to his right, but instead elects to go for goal. His shot is a good one, with plenty of power behind it, but Al-Mayoof managed to tip it wide.
53'
Fantastic skill from Hector, who gives the home crowd something to cheer about with a wonderful spin to get around his marker. That starts a crisp move from the hosts which results in Muller driving a cross into the area, but Werner is unable to make contact.
51'
SAVE! That’s fantastic goalkeeping from Al-Mayoof, who gets down low to his right to keep out Draxler’s venomous first-time strike following fine play from Hector down the left.
49'
Reus splits Saudi Arabia open with a superb throughball, which Werner gets on the end of. Al Shahrani, though, made a great recovery run to intervene.
47'
CLOSE! Kroos whips in an inviting cross from a corner on the right, which is nudged into Hummels’ path. The defender tries to get over the top of the ball, but can’t quite manage to make a decent connection, and sends his effort over.
46'
N. Süle enters the game and replaces J. Boateng.
M. ter Stegen enters the game and replaces M. Neuer.
Mohammed Al Burayk enters the game and replaces Mansour Al Harbi.
Indeed, there'll be a few changes from Germany for the second half. Manuel Neuer is going off, with Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen - possibly the best back-up goalkeeper in world football - coming on.
Saudi Arabia have also made a change, with Mansour Althaqfi Al Harbi making way for Mohammed Al Burayk.
Another Germany substitution sees Jerome Boateng replaced by Bayern team-mate Niklas Sule.
The game is back up and running in Leverkusen.
45'
HALF-TIME: GERMANY 2-0 SAUDI ARABIA.
43'
Omar Hawsawi is unfortunate, scores an own goal!
GOAL! GERMANY DOUBLE THEIR LEAD! A well-worked moved results in Werner getting free in the area, and drilling a low cross into the danger area. Muller misses it, but Omar Hawsawi can only skew the ball into the back of his own goal.
42'
No goal! This one should have stood! Reus definitely beat the offside trap and managed to squeeze a cross back to Draxler, who helped it onto Muller for a close-range finish. The linesman’s flag was up, though. With VAR in effect during the World Cup, you’d hope that decisions such as that will be cut out!
40'
Another half-chance for the visitors! This time, Al Dawsari gets free down the left with Germany’s defence all over the place, and proceeds to drill in a low cross. Al Muwallad is again there to meet it, but Hector had tracked the striker’s run, and manages to put him off.
38'
And now, Saudi Arabia go close at the other end! Hector was caught out of position, allowing Al Shehri to tee up Al Muwallad, whose low strike whistles just wide of the left-hand post.
37'
CHANCE! Khedira could have proved me wrong straight away! The midfielder makes a late, unchecked run into the area to connect with a cross from the right, and turns a powerful header goalwards. Al-Mayoof, though, reacts brilliantly, somehow parrying the ball onto the inside of the upright before gathering it in at the second attempt.
36'
Khedira is playing as the box-to-box midfielder at the moment, with Kroos pulling the strings from deep. The former Madrid man is an excellent all-round player, but his end product in terms of attacking output often leaves a lot to be desired, and that could be a weakness heading into the World Cup. It’s hard not to feel a player such as Gundogan or Goretzka should be given a chance to prove their quality in that role.
35'
Saudi Arabia are enjoying a decent spell of pressure, here, with Hummels forced into a rather panicked clearance to prevent Al Muwallad latching onto a cross. Low will be wanting his side to step up the intensity again soon.
33'
CLOSE! Fantastic interplay from Reus and Muller sees the latter flicking the ball up in the air for the onrushing Werner to meet. The 22-year-old generates a lot of power on his header, but can’t quite keep it on target.
31'
Germany are in control, but playing at their own – somewhat leisurely – pace. Kroos steps it up a gear with a fantastic pass into his midfield partner Khedira, who gets a snapshot away. The strike flashed across goal, but it would not have counted, as the Juve man had strayed offside.
29'
That’s poor from Khedira! The midfielder had received possession in a really promising position but, despite having plenty of time and space to pick a pass, fails to find Werner, who had made a decent run in behind Saudi Arabia’s line.
25'
No goal! Wonderful build-up play from Germany, as Kroos picks Khedira out with a sublime diagonal. Kedira tees up Reus to tuck it home, but the linesman had already raised his flag to signal for offside.
23'
Germany have just stepped off the gas in recent minutes, and seem to be slacking in concentration somewhat, with passes going astray and first touches suddenly rather heavy. Saudi Arabia are offering little threat going the other way, but Low will be looking for his side to cut out any unforced errors heading into the tournament.
21'
Another tough challenge – this time from Al Shehri – leaves Kroos hobbling. It appears that it was just an awkward landing, though, and the Madrid star should be able to run it off.
19'
Neuer is still returning to full fitness following a long-term injury that saw him miss most of Bayern’s season, but the goalkeeper has clearly lost none of his confidence on the ball, as he displays some neat footwork to deal with a tricky back pass.
18'
That was reckless and, perhaps, a little nasty from Al Dawsari, who lunged in over the top of the ball on Kimmich, evidently stamping down on the Bayern defender. Kimmich is back to his feet quickly enough, but there is no need for challenges like that in a pre-tournament friendly.
16'
Now it’s Khedira who tries his luck, as the Juventus midfielder tries to curl a long-range strike in at the far post. Al-Mayoof is beaten once again, but Khedira did not generate enough spin on the ball to hit the target.
12'
POST! Reus is just inches away from turning from provider to scorer as he meets the ball on the half-volley 20 yards out. His strike is crisp and low, giving Al-Mayoof no chance, but it rattles away off the left-hand upright.
10'
CLOSE! Germany are all over Saudi Arabia, and that could have been a second for the hosts. Kimmich threaded a pass into Draxler, but the Paris Saint-Germain playmaker can’t trap the ball, and the chance goes begging.
8'
T. Werner has scored a goal for Germany! Assist by M. Reus.
GOAL! WERNER SCORES – 1-0 GERMANY! Slick, brilliant play from Germany. Reus latches onto a perfectly-weighted pass from deep, and duly nudges the ball into the path of Werner, who makes no mistake with a neat first-time finish that clattered in off the underside of the bar.
It was delightful play from Reus, who timed his run to perfection and supplied the assist with a wonderfully cushioned pass on the volley.
7'
Great play from Werner, as he cuts the ball back for Hummels, whose shot is blocked. The striker picks up the rebound, but his low effort is deflected wide.
6'
Perhaps reflecting the fact that Ozil will be a guaranteed starter – if fit – against Mexico, Muller has been tasked with starting from the right today, with Reus currently occupying the space behind Werner, which is usually filled by Ozil. Draxler is out on the left, given the freedom to cut inside and interchange with Reus if required.
5'
It’s an incredibly strong side that Low has named, and you imagine it will be a very similar starting XI that will take the field against Mexico in nine days’ time. Ozil is the only change you’d expect to see, with the Arsenal playmaker sitting out tonight having picked up an injury in training.
4'
Germany win a free-kick down the right, which Kroos takes. The Real Madrid playmaker’s cross is a good one and finds Boateng, whose header is turned over from close range by his defensive partner Hummels. It would not have counted anyway, however, as the linesman’s flag was up for offside.
2'
Werner’s pace will be a key weapon for Germany heading into the tournament, and the RB Leipzig forward has made a promising start, making a darting run out to the right. The youngster cuts a low cross into the six-yard box, but Al-Mayoof makes the stop.
1'
And we're off! Slavko Vincic is the referee this evening, and at the sound of his whistle, Saudi Arabia - donning their all-green strip - get proceedings underway.
Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Germany's final pre-World Cup friendly, as the current world champions take on Saudi Arabia.
Heading into the tournament on the back of their triumphant campaign in 2014, Germany - under the tutelage of Joachim Low - are among the favourites to taste glory in Russia. And, with such a strong depth of talent at their disposal, they will be confident of retaining their crown.
Saudi Arabia, on the other hand, will have to be at their very best to make it out of Group A, which includes Uruguay, Egypt and host nation Russia, who Juan Antonio Pizzi's side face in the tournament's opening game in six days' time.
Low caused some controversy earlier this week, having left Leroy Sane - who has starred for Manchester City in the Premier League this season - out of his final 23-man squad, with Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule taking his place. It means that Julian Brandt, Marco Reus and Julian Draxler will battle it out for a starting place down the left, and the latter two have both been given a chance to impress this evening.
Germany (4-2-3-1): Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Jonas Hector; Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira; Marco Reus, Thomas Muller, Julian Draxler; Timo Werner.
Saudi Arabia substitutes: Ali Albulayhi, Mohammed Al-Burayk, Hattan Bahebri, Mohammed Al Sahlawi, Abdulmalek Al-Khaibri, Mohammed Kanno, Abdullah Al Khaibari, Hussain Al-Mogahwi, Mohannad Aseri, Yasser Al-Mosailem, Mohammed Al Owais, Motaz Hawsawi.
The teams are out at the BayArena, lining up for the national anthems. Kick-off is just moments away!
So far, so good for Germany in terms of the scoreline, with Werner having been particularly impressive up top. However, after a fast start, the hosts have looked rather laboured at times, with Saudi Arabia having started to offer a threat towards the end of the half. That own-goal from Omar Hawsawi looks to have ended any hopes of a comeback, though.
Germany substitutes: Marvin Plattenhardt, Matthias Ginter, Mesut Ozil, Kevin Trapp, Leon Goretzka, Niklas Sule, Antonio Rudiger, Sebastian Rudy, Julian Brandt, Ilkay Gundogan, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Mario Gomez.
Low may well utilise his substitutes for the second half, with the likes of Gundogan, Goretzka, Brandt, Sule and Ginter all in need of some minutes, while Hector has looked like a potential weak spot at left-back. Werner, Reus and Kroos have all looked sharp, however, while Khedira has also looked to get forward whenever possible.
Overall, Germany can consider themselves fortunate to have ended a five-game winless streak, and Low certainly has a lot of work to do heading into the World Cup. Germany started brilliantly – Werner putting them ahead early on – but complacency soon set in.
Well, that’s all for now. Until next time, goodbye!
Germany have a lot to improve upon, then, with their defence far too open at times, while Low’s refusal to pick Sane – a player who offers genuine pace down the flanks – may come back to bite him should he need to mix things up in the tournament.
An own-goal from Omar Hawsawi on the stroke of half-time extended their lead, but a dreadful second-half display almost allowed Saudi Arabia – who pulled one back from Al Jassim – to snatch a draw.
Saudi Arabia (4-2-3-1): Abdullah Al-Mayoof; Yasir Al Shahrani, Osama Hawsawi, Omar Hawsawi, Mansour Al-Harbi; Abdullah Ateef, Salman Al Faraj; Yahya Al Shehri, Salem Al Dawsari, Taiseer Al Jassim; Fahad Al Muwallad.
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