Mueller on the mark as Germany thrash Latvia
Thomas Mueller scored his first international goal for three years on Mon as Germany crushed minnows Latvia 7-1 within their last warm-up friendly prior to the Euro 2020 finals.
Latvia, ranked 138th on the planet, rarely got out of their one half seeing as Germany tuned up for their opening video game of the European Championship against environment champions France found in eight days amount of time in Munich.
After a two-year exile from international football, 2014 World Cup winner Mueller got on the scoresheet while Premier Group stars Ilkay Gundogan and Timo Werner likewise found the web in the rout.
“The result wasn’t the main thing, it had been more about just how we wished to play football and implement things,” said Mueller, who claimed his first Germany goal since March 2018.
“It felt good, it was a convincing win, but we realize that France is a different proposition, that’s sharp.”
Germany captain Manuel Neuer was applauded onto the pitch by his team-mates before kick-away as he became the earliest goalkeeper to create 100 appearances for the national team.
The 35-year-old veteran had among the quietest nights of his career in Duesseldorf.
He was largely untested until Latvia midfielder Aleksejs Saveljevs caught the German defence napping with a good consolation goal 15 minutes from time.
Germany head coach Joachim Loew made several changes from the side held to a frustrating 1-1 draw with Denmark.
Chelsea’s Champions League champion Antonio Ruediger came into the defence along with his golf club team-mate Kai Havertz, who performed the first one half, impressing up front.
Manchester City’s Gundogan partnered Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos in a good midfield pairing.
The Germans wasted short amount of time.
Havertz ghosted through the Latvia defence to create the opener due to left-back Robin Gosens claimed his initial international goal, then 86 seconds soon after Gundogan crashed found in the second.
Germany were 3-0 up inside 27 a few minutes when Mueller hit the net for his 39th goal found in 102 caps for Germany.
It had been 5-0 at the break due to Latvia goalkeeper Robert Ozols fumbled the ball into his own net, then Serge Gnabry volleyed into the top corner right before half-time.
Werner replaced Havertz for the second half and fired home between Ozols hip and legs with 50 minutes gone.
The Germans were caught napping when Saveljevs’s excellent shot flew at night diving Neuer, before Sane made amends for his earlier miss by tapping home’s Mueller’s pass.
The win was a timely confidence booster on the eve of the Euro 2020 finals, but Germany can expect much harder games against France and reigning European champions Portugal in Group F.
“We’ve kept things no cost before middle of July - anything can happen,” joked Mueller, with the Euro 2020 last scheduled for London’s Wembley Stadium on the subject of July 11.
