Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann wants his team to find a rhythm in their final game on home soil before they head to North America for the 2026 World Cup as they take on Finland.
Die Mannschaft’s penultimate game before they take on Curacao in their World Cup opener on June 14 takes place in Mainz, with Naglesmann stressing the importance of unity to his side as they go through their final preparations for the tournament.
“I told the players that we’ll be like a family over the coming weeks, that everyone has to trust one another, pull in the same direction and speak openly about things,” Nagelsmann told a press conference.
“This journey doesn’t start today – it began three years ago. A lot of it comes through good performances. When you win, there’s no reason for the mood to dip. Everyone in the team is responsible for contributing to that team spirit.
“We want to use these warm-up games to look at a team that could potentially start the tournament. However, nothing is set in stone.
“Kai Havertz will miss the Finland game because of the Champions League final. We’ll have to replace him, but our idea of how we want to play has developed over the past few years and we don’t make it dependent on one player.
“It’s possible that we’ll see a few more players against Finland as well. It’s about finding a rhythm within the group, but the starting line-up against Finland won’t necessarily be the one that starts at the World Cup.”
Germany will travel to North America after Sunday’s game, with their final warm-up match taking place against co-hosts USA next Saturday.
For Finland, this game is about preparation for the UEFA Nations League, which begins in September.
Jacob Friis’ side beat Poland in World Cup qualifying en route to finishing third in a group that also included the Netherlands, and a surprise result against Germany would boost confidence as they build towards the Nations League and, further down the line, qualifying for Euro 2028.
Such thoughts are from the mind of Germany, who will hope to receive a warm send-off on the back of victory over a side to whom they have not lost in over 100 years.
Table of Contents
Team news for Germany v Finland
Manuel Neuer is recovering from a calf injury, so Oliver Baumann will to start in goal.
With Havertz unavailable, Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav are the options up front for Germany.
Bayern Munich teenager Lennart Karl will start on the right wing.
Predicted line-ups for Germany v Finland
Germany: Baumann; Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Nmecha, Pavlovic; Karl, Musiala, Wirtz; Undav.
Finland: Hradecky; Alho, Koski, Miettinen; Skytta, Suhonen, Markhiyev, Walta, Lahteenmaki; Pohjanpalo, Antman
Where to watch Germany v Finland: TV and online streams
Germany v Finland kicks off at 7:45pm UK time on Sunday.
It is available to stream via Amazon Prime Video for a pay-per-view charge of £2.99.
Stats for Germany v Finland
- Germany and Finland have met 17 times, with Die Mannschaft winning 10 games (D6, L1).
- In fact, Germany’s only defeat to Finland came back in 1923.
- Germany last faced Finland in a friendly in 2016, winning 2-0 to end a run of four successive draws in games between the sides.
- Julian Nagelsmann’s men have scored 22 goals in seven games since starting qualifying with a 2-0 loss to Slovakia.
Prediction for Germany v Finland
Finland performed respectably in a tough qualifying group and should provide a decent test for Germany, but there’s nothing to suggest the hosts will not run out comfortable winners.
Prediction: Germany 3-0 Finland
What To Do If You Have A Gambling Problem
We understand that gambling can be fun, but it is always important to gamble responsibly. If you are struggling with a gambling problem, please do not hesitate to ask for help. There are people who can help you get on the road to recovery. Below, we have listed some helpful resources to help aid you on the road to recovery.
- National Gambling Helpline: 0808 8020 133
- GamCare: https://www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware: www.gambleaware.com
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: 101greatgoals.com
