A late equaliser from Lars Stindl secured Germany a draw with France in their final match of 2017 in Cologne on Tuesday night.
Stindl’s strike was the final kick of a game that saw Joachim Löw’s side come from behind twice as a double from Alexandre Lacazette looked to have been enough for the visitors.
RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner drew Die Mannschaft level midway through the second half.
The result helped Confed Cup champions Germany to complete a successful 2017, which saw them remain unbeaten in fifteen games.
A much changed line up from Friday’s 0-0 draw with England at Wembley took to the field in Cologne as Joachim Löw brought in the likes Kevin Trapp, Marvin Plattenhardt and Toni Kroos to name but a few into the starting XI.
In the closing stages, Löw was also able to hand Mario Götze a first Germany run out for a year, as the Dortmund forward marked his return to the international stage by setting up his country’s late equaliser.
Facing arguably their toughest task of the year, the hosts had plenty of possession in the opening half hour but were unable to forge a clear path to goal and were punished approaching half time as Anthony Martial waltzed through to give Alexandre Lacazette a tap-in.
Germany began the second period with more impetus up front, and Julian Draxler was instrumental in unlocking the French defence, though Antonio Rüdiger was unable to turn the ball home.
It was Werner who drew the sides level after calmly slotting home a beautiful through ball from Mesut Özil.
The lead didn’t last long, however, and just moments after Kroos had hit the bar with a free kick, Lacazette was more than happy to accept his own one-on-one chance, rolling the ball past Trapp to restore the Blues’ lead with twenty minutes to go.
But it was sub Stindl who had the final say, slamming home from inside 12 yards with the last action of the match and 2017, fittingly so given the fact the Borussia forward had scored the winner in June’s Confed Cup final.
International football now takes a break until March, when preparations for the World Cup will really kick into gear with Löw and Germany hoping Russia 2018 goes as well as Brazil 2014. If 2017 is anything to go by, it could be another special summer.
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A late equaliser from Lars Stindl secured Germany a draw with France in their final match of 2017 in Cologne on Tuesday night.
Stindl’s strike was the final kick of a game that saw Joachim Löw’s side come from behind twice as a double from Alexandre Lacazette looked to have been enough for the visitors.
RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner drew Die Mannschaft level midway through the second half.
The result helped Confed Cup champions Germany to complete a successful 2017, which saw them remain unbeaten in fifteen games.
A much changed line up from Friday’s 0-0 draw with England at Wembley took to the field in Cologne as Joachim Löw brought in the likes Kevin Trapp, Marvin Plattenhardt and Toni Kroos to name but a few into the starting XI.
In the closing stages, Löw was also able to hand Mario Götze a first Germany run out for a year, as the Dortmund forward marked his return to the international stage by setting up his country’s late equaliser.
Facing arguably their toughest task of the year, the hosts had plenty of possession in the opening half hour but were unable to forge a clear path to goal and were punished approaching half time as Anthony Martial waltzed through to give Alexandre Lacazette a tap-in.
Germany began the second period with more impetus up front, and Julian Draxler was instrumental in unlocking the French defence, though Antonio Rüdiger was unable to turn the ball home.
It was Werner who drew the sides level after calmly slotting home a beautiful through ball from Mesut Özil.
The lead didn’t last long, however, and just moments after Kroos had hit the bar with a free kick, Lacazette was more than happy to accept his own one-on-one chance, rolling the ball past Trapp to restore the Blues’ lead with twenty minutes to go.
But it was sub Stindl who had the final say, slamming home from inside 12 yards with the last action of the match and 2017, fittingly so given the fact the Borussia forward had scored the winner in June’s Confed Cup final.
International football now takes a break until March, when preparations for the World Cup will really kick into gear with Löw and Germany hoping Russia 2018 goes as well as Brazil 2014. If 2017 is anything to go by, it could be another special summer.
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