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Germany national football team
International Friendlies
Mar 25, 2015 at 7.30pm UK
 
Australia national football team

2-2

Reus (17'), Podolski (81')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Troisi (40'), Jedinak (50')

Live Commentary: Germany 2-2 Australia - as it happened

Relive Sports Mole's live text coverage of the friendly between Germany and Australia in Kaiserslautern.
2

Australia produced an impressive performance to hold Germany to an entertaining 2-2 draw in Kaiserslautern.

It was the world champions who broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Marco Reus poked home from close range, but Australia were level before the break thanks to James Troisi's header.

A shock looked on the cards when Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak stunned the home fans by putting his side in front from a free kick early in the second half.

However, substitute Lukas Podolski scored the equaliser late on to rescue a draw for Germany.

Read below to find out how the drama unfolded.


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Good evening all! A hectic international break begins tonight as world champions Germany meet Australia in a friendly in Kaiserslautern. Will we see the best of Joachim Low's side tonight? Or can the Socceroos cause an upset? I'll be keeping you updated throughout the night.

The German fans are still celebrating last summer's World Cup triumph, and rightly so, but Low's men have struggled to hit the same heights since Mario Gotze's injury-time winner in Rio. They've only managed to win three of their last six games. Tonight is all about experimenting ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifier with Georgia, but the hosts will expect a victory.

Australia are still in celebratory mood, too, following their victory in the Asian Cup earlier this year. That achievement proved once again that Ange Postecoglou can work wonders with a side which doesn't contain many stars. It's a tough ask for his team tonight, though. Will they be brave enough to attack the world champions?

GERMANY: Zieler, Mustafi, Howedes, Badstuber, Khedira, Bellarabi, Gundogan, Ozil, Hector, Gotze, Reus

It's an interesting selection from Low, and we could see a variation of a 3-5-2 formation, with Karim Bellarabi and Jonas Hector operating as the wing-backs. Marco Reus and Mario Gotze appear set to play the furthest forward in front of Ilkay Gundogan and Mesut Ozi. There's also a start for Holger Badstuber as he finally returns to international level following his injury nightmare.

AUSTRALIA: Ryan, Franjic, Wilkinson, Devere, Davidson, Jedinak, Milligan, McKay, Burns, Troisi, Leckie

The obvious omission from Australia's lineup is Tim Cahill, who was unable to join up with the squad due to an ongoing Achilles problem. Nathan Burns and James Troisi will be trusted to be the main creative forces in this side behind Matthew Leckie. Crystal Palace midfielder Mile Jedinak captains the Socceroos.


It might not be the side we're used to seeing, but Jedinak is well aware just how difficult it will be to beat the world champions this evening.

"It's a great game to be involved in. Although it's a mammoth task to play the world champions in their own backyard, it's still a good measuring stick," the skipper told reporters. "To try and be the best, you have to play the best."



PREDICTION: Germany have made changes and look to be trying something new, and the substitutions in these games can often have a negative impact on both sides. However, I think the hosts are just too strong for Australia. 2-0 to Germany.

Here we go then. Both sides are on their way out and kickoff is just a few moments away as they line up for the handshakes.


Australia are now ready to get the game underway!

Australia have started the game very confidently, and it's the hosts on the back foot as they clear an early corner from the visitors.

Much better from Germany as Ozil gets involved in a clever passing move before shifting the ball to Hector, who wins a corner for his side. Australia can only clear the ball as far as Gundogan, and he's inches wide with a low effort from the edge of the box.

Germany are controlling the tempo of the game now, with Gundogan and Khedira seeing plenty of the ball in the middle of the park as Australia are forced into chasing shadows for a long spell.

CHANCE! What an opportunity for Australia. A long ball forward fins Leckie in space, and he does brilliantly to turn Howedes twice before eventually dragging a shot wide of the post from a great position. He really should have scored.

Credit to Australia, they're getting men behind the ball quickly to make life very difficult for Germany's creative players in and around the box, and it looks like they are keen to break in numbers as Troisi leads a counter on the right wing before eventually losing possession.

CHANCE! Australia waste another glorious opening. Germany lose concentration at a free kick as the visitors take it short to Troisi, whose excellent cross is headed wide by Burns.

DISALLOWED GOAL! The home fans think the deadlock is broken when Reus pokes home at the back post, but the Dortmund star was offside as he connected with Gundogan's dragged shot.

GOAL! GERMANY 1-0 AUSTRALIA (REUS)

There's no flag this time! Khedira drifts out wide to collect the ball on the left before powering into space and delivering an inch-perfect cross for Reus, who slides in to hand the world champions the lead.

Germany immediately have the chance to double their advantage as Ozil skips past a couple of challenge, but he chooses to pass rather than shoot and Gotze can't collect the ball in a congested box.

CHANCE! Reus should have scored his second. Australia attempt to slow the game down, but Jedinak plays a dreadful pass straight to the goalscorer, whose attempt to beat Ryan at the near post ends with ball striking the side-netting.

Australia have seen their fair share of the ball since the opening goal, but they don't appear comfortable controlling the tempo in midfield and Germany's defence are growing in confidence as Badstuber steps in with a vital interception.

Australia give the ball away once again to invite an attack from Ozil, but he picks another poor pass which is intercepted. Hector is forced to check his run to collect, and he can only curl a speculative effort into the stands.

SAVE! Much better from Australia. The visitors win the ball high up the pitch, but Leckie wisely checks back to set up Jedinak, whose powerful strike is tipped past the post by Zieler.

Some of their football has been great to watch, but not all of Germany's decision-making has been good. Bellarabi offers the latest example as he attempts a trick in midfield to frustrate Reus, who was screaming for the ball on the edge of the box.

Leckie is working incredibly hard in attack for the visitors. He chases down everything, and almost creates something out of nothing before Zieler charges off his line to collect.

Superb from Khedira. A loose pass puts him under pressure from two Australians, but a clever swivel in the middle of the park earns him some vital space. He can still be a key man playing that position for the world champions.

The game has hit a quiet period ahead of the half-time interval, but Ryan is forced off his line to deny Reus when a hopeful ball forward causes problems for the visiting defence. Germany are in charge but Australia are definitely in this game.

GOAL! GERMANY 1-1 AUSTRALIA (TROISI)

They are definitely in this game now! Australia find the equaliser as the impressive Burns fights his way into space on the left wing before delivering an inviting cross to allow Troisi to power a header home from close range.

You've got to give all of the credit to Australia. They've responded very well to falling behind, and are finishing the first half confidently. It will be interesting to see how the changes in the second half affect this game.

Khedira picks up the ball in a good position to deliver a cross, but he had drifted into an offside position and a promising attack comes to an end for the hosts.

HALF TIME: GERMANY 1-1 AUSTRALIA

It's not always the case, but this has been a very entertaining international friendly so far. Australia missed two great chances to break the deadlock before Reus opened the scoring, and you'd be forgiven for expecting Germany to dominate after that goal. However, Australia responded impressively and claimed an equaliser with a header from Troisi to leave the game delicately poised.

BENCH WATCH: Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Muller, Hummels, Schurrle and plenty of others. Low has so much talent to choose from on the bench, but he won't want his key men to do too much ahead of the qualifier with Georgia. Australia could look to Oliver Bozanic and Tommy Oar for creativity after the break.


Germany have kept the ball pretty well, and in truth, both defences look vulnerable this evening. If the hosts are to make the most of their possession, the decision making in the final third of the pitch has to be better. Ozil, Bellarabi and Gotze have all be guilty of taking the wrong option tonight. There is space to work, but Germany need to improve in and around the box.

Mats Hummels is currently in goal as his fellow substitutes unleash a few efforts during the interval, but I'm pretty sure it's not a new career move. Sebastian Rudy certainly looks to be preparing to come on.

SUBSTITUTION: Just the one change at the break as Rudy replaces Badstuber. Germany will get the game back underway.

Germany's defence looks a bit nervy as Australia put the pressure on before a poor pass from Troisi allows Reus to clear the danger on the left wing. It looks like Rudy will play out wide on the right, possibly as the wing-back after Bellarabi struggled in the first half.

GOAL! GERMANY 1-2 AUSTRALIA (JEDINAK)

We've seen him do it in the Premier League, and now he's done it against the world champions! Australia win a free kick on the edge of the box and it's Jedinak who steps up to beat the wall with a powerful strike. Zieler gets a hand to the ball, but he can't keep it out.

There's a break in play when Troisi clashes with Mustafi in the air, and it appears that the Australian may have cut the top of his head. Both men look keen to continue.

CHANCE! Australia are so close to making it 3-1. Troisi returns to the pitch to beat a couple of defenders and with little pressure being applied, he curls just past the post from the edge of the box.

The home fans are finding it difficult to get involved in this match. Germany have produced very little going forward since the break, and Australia are looking very comfortable at the moment. You'd expect the hosts to pile the pressure on at some point.

Great play from Ozil as he drops into a gap to collect the ball before playing a clever pass into the path of Bellarabi, whose poor touch allow Ryan to come off his line to gather the ball. It's not been a great night for Bellarabi so far.

Australia must feel that an upset is on the cards tonight. Germany are losing the ball in some dreadful positions, and the break is certainly on if the visitors are brave enough to commit men forward. Leckie continues to lead the line impressively.

SUBSTITUTION: Bellarabi raises his hand apologetically when he fires a cross past his teammates in the box. Australia then make their first change as the impressive Burns makes way for Oar.

Much better from Germany. They move the ball quickly to find space for Bellarabi, whose powerful strike forces Ryan into a good save. The hosts keep the pressure on before Australia eventually clear from a corner.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Low decides it's time for more changes as Andre Schurrle and Christoph Kramer come off the bench to replace Khedira and Bellarabi.

Germany have pushed players out much wider in an attempt to create more space to work, but chances are proving to be very difficult to come by as Australia continue to keep men behind the ball.

SUBSTITUTION: Australia make another change as Aaron Mooy replaces Milligan.

CHANCE! Will Australia regret this miss? Oar does brilliantly to work some space for himself before delivering an inviting cross which is headed just wide by Leckie.

Superb defending on show from Wilkinson as he dives in to deny Howedes with a crucial block, and Mustafi can only head over the crossbar from the corner which follows.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Germany have just over 15 minutes to find an equaliser. Lukas Podolski and Max Kruse are on to replace Gotze and Reus.

Podolski is involved immediately as he slices an effort wide of the post after finding a yard of space inside the box. Germany are starting to apply more pressure, but Australia have shown that they can cause problems on the counter.

Mustafi meets another corner, but his header is blocked on this occasion. It's a surprise to say that Germany have lacked a creative spark tonight and Australia are taking advantage as we enter the closing stages of the match.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Australia make two changes as McKay and Wilkinson jog off to be replaced by Bozanic and Bailey Wright.

Germany are being left frustrated by just how well organised Australia are in defence. The visitors launch a break through Leckie, whose cross is claimed by Zieler.

GOAL! GERMANY 2-2 AUSTRALIA (PODOLSKI)

Germany find the equaliser! Schurrle breaks into the box before lifting his head to spot Podolski at the back post, and the Inter forward finishes calmly. Which way will this game go now?

Kramer almost forces his way into the box following a smart ball from Ozil, but Australia then come forward through Oar, who hits a speculative effort wide from 25 yards.

Australia suddenly look very nervous. Ozil attracts the attention of two defenders before picking out Kruse, who sends a wild effort over the crossbar from a tight angle.

SUBSTITUTION: Troisi has done a great job at both ends of the pitch tonight, but he won't finish the match. Tomi Juric is his replacement.

Germany are certainly the favourites to find the winner late on, but Australia are battling impressively like they have done all evening. It's very congested in the middle of the pitch. Low's side have to get the ball out wide. Podolski fires a hopeful effort over from the edge of the box.

There's three minutes of added time to be played in Kaiserslautern. Will there be one final twist?

Australia send a few players forward for a late attack, which allows Germany to counter moments later. Podolski sprints into the box under pressure from a couple of defenders before shooting just wide.

FULL TIME: GERMANY 2-2 AUSTRALIA

A very entertaining game of football comes to an end in Kaiserslautern. Either team could have picked up the win tonight, but it's Podolski's late goal which ensured Germany avoided a shock defeat to an impressive Australia.

That's all from our live coverage tonight. I hope you've enjoyed following a thrilling match with Sports Mole. Goodnight everyone!

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Lukas Podolski of FC Internazionale Milano sits on the bench during the Serie A match between Juventus FC and FC Internazionale Milano at Juventus Arena on January 6, 2015
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