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It’s terrifying, really. Saudi Arabia thought it was set up well defensively, with the ball nearer to midfield than its own goal. But three touches later from three different Germans and the Saudis were picking the ball out of the back of their net. The ruthless nature of Germany vs Saudi Arabia on Friday perfectly illustrated just how strong the defending champions still are.
Germany’s final World Cup tune-up match before taking on Mexico in the Group F opener was at BayArena in Leverkusen on Friday against a nation no one expected to give Die Mannschaft much trouble, but the 2-1 final score didn’t flatter the Saudis, who nearly came out of the match with an unlikely draw. The last Germany vs Saudi Arabia match came in the 2002 World Cup, when Miroslav Klose and company eviscerated the Arabic country 8-0, one of the most lopsided defeats in World Cup history.
Klose was on hand on Friday for the third installment of the Germany vs Saudi Arabia series (Germany won the first meeting 3-0 in a 1998 friendly). The World Cup’s all-time top scorer would have been proud of his country’s first goal, with Timo Werner showing the type of finishing Klose has provided many a time for Germany.
The move began with Joshua Kimmich near midfield given plenty of time to survey the field. The Bayern Munich defender’s long ball into the box found a streaking Marco Reus, whose excellent first-touch pass back across goal was smashed home by Werner.
The speed and ruthlessness with which Germany attacked are exactly why Joachim Low’s side is among the favorites to win it all once again this year. Notice how Mats Hummels, a German defender in the opposition box, points out Reus’ run, which could have easily been replicated by Julian Draxler, also on the left wing.
The match wasn’t all rosy for the home side as Saudi players technically outscored them the rest of the way 2-0. Germany took a 2-0 lead just before halftime on an own goal and Taiseer Al-Jassam knocked in the rebound from Mohammed Al-Sahlawi’s saved penalty kick to make it 2-1 in the 84th minute. Saudi Arabia had a penalty shout in stoppage time but Germany held on in the end.
After losing to Austria for the first time in decades on June 2, Germany was looking for a confidence booster against Saudi Arabia. The country that won the 2017 Confederations Cup with a B squad never quite opened things up against a team it has never lost to despite owning nearly 60 percent of possession and taking 21 shots. But the first goal for Germany vs Saudi Arabia will worry Mexico's defenders ahead of their meeting in a little more than a week.
Germany opens the 2018 World Cup on June 17 with the aforementioned showdown with Mexico.
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