Germany's preparations for Euro 2016 were rocked by a 3-1 home friendly defeat at the hands of Slovakia this evening.
Despite the absence of Bayern Munich duo Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller, both of whom were rested, it was still a strong German side that turned out at the SGL Arena in Augsburg.
It was one of their most experienced players - Mario Gomez - that put the hosts in front with just 13 minutes on the clock.
Juraj Kucka was adjudged to have fouled Mario Gotze inside the area and centre-forward Gomez stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.
However, the Slovakians were level in the 41st minute when Marek Hamsik fired in from outside the box and then one minute before the break Michal Duris headed Vladimir Weiss's cross into the roof of the net to put the visitors in front.
Then, seven minutes after the restart, Kucka atoned for his earlier mistake when he found the back of the net from 10 yards out.
In the closing stages Gotze and Andre Schurrle both shot off target as the two-goal deficit proved to be impossible for the Germans to bridge.
Liam Apicella
