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Germany: 3-4-2-1

GK: 1 Kevin Trapp

CB: 2 Robin Koch

CB: 16Antonio Rüdiger

CB: 5 Jonathan Tah

Lm: 19 Philipp Max

CM: 7 Florian Neuhaus

CM: 21 Ilkay Gündogan

RM: 13 Ridle Baku

CAM: 10 Julian Brandt

CAM: 20 Jonas Hofmann

ST: 11 Luca Waldschmidt

Substitutes: 22 Rakim Rex, 15 Benjamin Henrichs, 4 Felix Uduokhai, 23 Robin Gosens, 17 Niklas Stark, 12 Bernd Leno, 9 Mahmoud Dahoud, 14 Nico Schulz,

VS

Czechia: 4-2-3-1

GK: 23 Jirí Pavlenka

LB: 22 Filip Novak

CB: 3 Vaclav Jemelka

CB: 4 Jakub Brabec

RB: 25 Ales Mateju

CDM: 7 Antonín Barák

CDM: 19 Tomás Holes

LM: 10 Jan Kopic

CAM: 9 Borek Dockal

RM: 13 Zdenek Ondrasek

ST: 11 Michael Krmencík

Substitutes: 18 Václav Cerný, 14 Jakub Jankto, 26 Ales Mandous, 2 David Hovorka, 1 Tomás Vaclík, 6 Tomás Kalas, 16 Tomas Koubek, 5 Vladimír Coufal, 15 Tomás Soucek, 8 Vladimír Darida, 21 Alex Král, 20 Matej Vydra, 13 Zdenek Ondrasek

---

[11/11/2020 | 20:45 | Red Bull Arena, Leipzig | International Friendly — Germany vs Czech Republic | Attendance: 1250 (COVID-restricted)]

The cold November air rolled across the Red Bull Arena like mist from a frozen river. Floodlights burned through the haze, bathing the emerald pitch in silver. The stands were mostly empty — save for a few hundred staff, media, and officials, yet the hum of expectation filled the space.

On the gantry high above the halfway line, the familiar voice of Derek Rae cut through the crisp air. "A chilly night in Leipzig, but a warm welcome for international football once again as Germany takes on the Czech Republic. A youthful side named by Joachim Löw tonight, a clear nod that he is looking at the future as he gears up to reshuffle Die Mannschaft, and he's got plenty of fresh faces looking to make their mark."

Down on the pitch, the German players stood shoulder to shoulder for the anthem, the black, red, and gold stitched proudly across their kits. Kevin Trapp, with an armband on his left sleeve, exhaled visibly in the cold. To his right, Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah are mainstays in the national team fists, while the other defender was earning his first senior start in over a year.

"There's a face we had been expecting to see in the senior team sooner," Derek continued as the camera panned over to the bench where Rakim, along with the rest of the substitutes, sang along to the anthem. "He will be looking to make his presence felt when he gets the call-up." The Czechs, in their familiar red, were led by veteran Borek Dockal, who sang their anthem with vigour, to polite applause.

~~~

[11/11/2020 | 20:45 | Red Bull Arena, Leipzig | International Friendly]

[1']

(FWEEEEET)

The referee's whistle pierced the cold Leipzig night, and Germany kicked off. Waldschmidt rolled it back to Brandt, who immediately spread it wide to Baku on the right. The Wolfsburg wingback took one touch before playing it inside to Gündogan.

"And we're underway in Leipzig," Derek Rae announced. Germany in their traditional white, the Czech Republic in red. A chance for Joachim Löw to assess his options ahead of the Euros next summer."

Germany's opening possession was patient and measured, the ball moving from side to side as they probed for openings. The Czechs sat in a compact 4-2-3-1 defensive shape, clearly instructed to deny space in central areas and force Germany wide.

[8']

The first chance came in the eighth minute. Gündogan picked up the ball in midfield and played a beautiful diagonal pass over the Czech defence, finding Philipp Max making an overlapping run down the left. The Stuttgart left-back controlled it with his chest and skipped past Mateju's slide tackle. Without hesitation, he whipped in a dangerous cross toward the penalty spot.

Waldschmidt attacked it with intent, but Pavlenka came charging off his line, punching it clear with authority. The rebound fell to the edge of the box, where Brandt and Holes tussled for positions. The German won the engagement, striking it first-time on the volley, but his shot flew high over the bar.

"Good start from Germany," Rae observed. "Pressing high, moving the ball quickly. The Czechs are having to defend deep."

[15']

The Czech Republic created their first real chance in the fifteenth minute. Kopic collected the ball on the left wing after Germany lost possession in midfield. The Sparta Prague winger drove at Baku with pace, executing a quick stepover before cutting inside onto his right foot.

His strike was powerful, flying high into the air and dipping, forcing Trapp into action. The Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper dove to his right, pushing it wide with a firm hand. "Trapp with a good save!" Rae exclaimed. "The Czechs are showing some bite!"

The resulting corner was cleared by Tah, whose towering header sent the ball back toward the halfway line. Germany immediately looked to counter, with Hofmann driving forward at pace.

[23']

Germany took the lead through a moment of individual brilliance in the 23rd minute. Neuhaus picked up the ball in midfield and played a clever through pass that split the Czech defence. Waldschmidt was onto it in a flash, racing clear with only Pavlenka to beat.

The Freiburg striker took one touch to steady himself, then slotted it calmly past the advancing goalkeeper with his right foot. The ball rolled into the bottom corner, and the small crowd erupted with polite applause. "WALDSCHMIDT!" Rae bellowed. "Germany has the lead! What a finish from the Freiburg forward!" The substitutes on the German bench jumped to their feet, applauding enthusiastically.

[Germany 1-0 Czech Republic — Waldschmidt 23']

"That's his third goal in four appearances for Germany," Rae added. "Waldschmidt is proving he belongs at this level."

[23: Germany 1-0 Czech Republic]

[35']

Germany continued to dominate possession, but the Czechs were defending well, staying compact and organised. In the thirty-fifth minute, Brandt tried to unlock them with a brilliant piece of skill, receiving the ball on the edge of the box. He executed a quick set of ins and outs, allowing him to glide past three defenders before a shooting angle opened up.

He wound up to shoot, but the shot didn't get far as Jemelka slid in with a perfectly timed tackle, winning the ball cleanly. "Superb defending!" Rae exclaimed. "Brandt's skill was magnificent, but Jemelka matched him!"

[42']

Just before halftime, the Czech Republic found their equaliser after one of their players was fouled past the halfway line. A quick free kick from Barák caught Germany's defence flat-footed, playing it quickly to Dockal on the edge of the box. The veteran playmaker took one touch to control it, spinning past his man with a Maradona turn, escaping his marker.

Before he could be closed down, he curled in a beautiful strike toward the top right corner with his left foot. Trapp rose into the air, diving full stretch, but he was sorely beaten, unable to reach it. The ball kissed the inside of the post before rattling the back of the net.

"DOCKAL!" Rae roared. "The Czechs are level! What a strike from the captain!" Löw stood on the touchline, hands in his pockets, his expression unreadable but clearly processing what had just happened.

[Germany 1-1 Czech Republic — Dockal 42']

Löw stood on the touchline, hands in his pockets, his head shaking in disappointment. He whispered something to Marcus Sorg, his assistant coach, who proceeded to make some notes on his clipboard.

[Half-Time: Germany 1-1 Czech Republic]

~~~

[Half-Time | German Dressing Room]

The atmosphere in the German dressing room was subdued but not panicked. Players sat in their designated spots, towels draped around necks, bottles of electrolyte drinks in hand. Löw stood at the front, arms crossed, waiting for everyone to settle.

"We started well," he began in German, his voice calm but firm. "But we allowed them back into the match with poor concentration. That goal was avoidable."

He gestured toward the tactical board. "Second half, I want more intensity. Press higher, win the ball back quicker. And when we have possession, be braver. Take risks. This is a friendly—use it to express yourselves."

He paused, his eyes scanning the room before landing on the substitutes. "I'll be making changes around the sixtieth minute. Those coming on—be ready. This is your chance to show what you can do."

.

.

.

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To Be Continued...