Joachim Low ready for Slovakia match after "wake-up call" in friendly defeat

Joachim Low has declared that Germany are ready for the challenge that Slovakia pose following their recent friendly defeat at the hands of the same opponents.

The world champions, who were humbled 3-1 in a pre-Euro 2016 friendly in Augsburg in May, face the Repre in a last-16 showdown on Sunday evening.

Low admits that losing that warm-up fixture was a "wake-up call" for his charges on the eve of the competition that they are among the favourites to win, but believes that lessons have been learned over the past month.

"They will challenge us. At the end of May we got a wake-up call with the 3-1 [loss]," he is quoted as saying by BT Sport. "The Slovaks will work defensively good, close down the space. We will not get many chances.

"We have 20 players left [to select from] - I've been thinking whether there are one or two changes. The Slovaks have a similar quality in the counter attacks as Poland. Slovakia is one of the surprises in the first round for me.

"They have beaten Russia, were unlucky to lose against Wales and played against England to draw. Against us in May they have already made a very good game, were brisk, bold and technically adept. They have experienced players in the defence but we will find ways to do better than England."

Germany beat Ukraine and Northern Ireland on their way to topping Group C, but were held by Poland in a goalless draw to deny them a perfect record in France.