Florian Wirtz and Leroy Sané are helping Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich set the Bundesliga pace, and they have the chance to help Germany to a third win in four as their UEFA EURO 2024 preparations continue against Turkey on Saturday (kick-off: 8.45pm CET).
Plenty of eyes will be on Julian Nagelsmann’s team selection in his second international window as Germany coach. With Turkey one of eight nations having already secured qualification for next summer’s European championship finals, the clash in Berlin provides a chance to explore how the Euro 2024 hosts may shape up. With Jamal Musiala the biggest injury absentee, Sané and Wirtz might be entrusted with providing the impetus to Germany’s attacking play, with both lighting up the Bundesliga at times this season. Niclas Füllkrug scored in both of Nagelsmann’s first two matches in charge as Germany toured the US last month to take his impressive international scoring record up to nine in 11 appearances. Nagelsmann might be minded to hand Füllkrug’s former Werder Bremen strike partner Marvin Ducksch his first taste of international action though, following his first call-up. Also in contention to make his Germany debut is RB Leipzig goalkeeper Janis Blaswich, with Manuel Neuer sitting out of international duty given his recent recovery from a complex injury.
Turkey coach Vincenzo Montella is likewise expected to want to use the trip to Berlin to give his side a real test ahead of Euro 2024. Borussia Dortmund’s Salih Özcan features in a strong first-choice midfield alongside former Bayer Leverkusen star and current Inter Milan set-piece specialist Hakan Çalhanoğlu. Hoffenheim defender Ozan Kabak could well feature too after recovering from a shoulder injury to play in his side’s last two Bundesliga encounters. One-time Schalke youth product Kaan Ayhan has recently worked his way back into the Turkey squad, with former Freiburg defender Çağlar Söyüncü making brief appearances for Atletico Madrid in recent weeks after his recovery from a groin problem. Experienced striker Cenk Tosun developed at Eintracht Frankfurt and played for various German youth national teams.
Match stats
– Sané is enjoying his best season yet, with eight goals and six assists after 11 Bundesliga matches.
Wirtz has contributed eight goals for Bundesliga leaders Leverkusen, two less than club and countryman Jonas Hofmann.
– These teams last met in October 2020 when they shared a 3-3 friendly draw. None of Germany’s scorers that day – Julian Draxler, Florian Neuhaus and Luca Waldschmidt – are included in the current squad.
Overall, Germany have by far the superior record in this fixture, with 14 wins, four draws and just three defeats across 21 games.
– Nagelsmann’s record as Germany boss currently stands and one win (3-1 vs. USA) and one draw (2-2 vs. Mexico). Both matches were played in the October international break.
– Turkey coach Montella was appointed in his role one day prior to Nagelsmann becoming Germany coach in September.
Probable teams
Germany: Ter Stegen – Henrichs, Hummels, Rüdiger, Raum – Kimmich, Gündoğan (c) – Sané, Müller, Wirtz – Füllkrug
Out: Can (thigh), Gosens (personal reasons), Günter (broken arm), Musiala (hamstring), F. Nmecha (hip)
Doubtful: Führich (illness), Thiaw (personal reasons)
Rest of squad: Trapp, Baumann, Blaswich, Süle, Tah, Goretzka, Prömel, Brandt, Havertz, Hofmann, Groß, Andrich, Gnabry, Ducksch
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
Turkey: Çakır – Kadıoğlu, Akaydin, Bardakcı, Özkacar – Yüksek – Kahveci, Çalhanoğlu (c), Özcan, Aktürkoğlu – B. Yılmaz
Out: Güler (thigh)
Doubtful: Söyüncü (groin)
Rest of squad: Bayındır, Gunok, Özbir, Celik, Ayhan, Elmali, R. Yılmaz, Özdemir, Kutlu, Akbaba, Ömür, Sari, Yıldız, Yildirim, Yazici
Coach: Vincenzo Montella
