March 26, (THEWILL) – Germany started their mission to rebuild a competitive team for next year’s Euros on a high note by securing a 2-0 victory over Peru, in a friendly on Saturday.
Forward Niclas Fuellkrug was the hero of the night, scoring twice in the match. The Germans were sharp in attack, especially in a strong first half, where they deployed two strikers with Fuellkrug and Timo Werner.
Although the Germans looked uncertain at times with the ball in their own half, repeatedly losing possession and struggling with Peru’s high pressing, Fuellkrug opened his account in the 12th minute, turning in the ball after Kai Havertz had played it on with his chest.
The 30-year-old Werder Bremen man had also scored their last World Cup group stage goal. Pedro Gallese, Peru’s goalkeeper, pulled off a stunning double save a little later by stopping Florian Wirtz’s shot and then denying Werner on the rebound. Fuellkrug, who made his Germany debut just days before the World Cup, bagged his fifth goal in his fifth international, flicking in a superb cross from newcomer Marius Wolf in the 33rd minute.
Substitute Serge Gnabry rattled the crossbar with a thundering mid-air volley on the hour before Havertz sent a 68th-minute penalty onto the post with the Germans having taken much of the pace out of the game. The next game for Germany will be against Belgium on March 28, in Cologne.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
