Germany beat Israel 2-0 in final Euro warm-up

Germany had to work hard to record a 2-0 win against Israel in a Euro 2012 warm-up match on Thursday with Mario Gomez and Andre Schuerrle on target late in each half.

The three-time European champions, among the title favourites, dominated with a performance that was a marked improvement on their 5-3 defeat by Switzerland on Saturday.

However, they wasted close to a dozen clear chances on a rainy evening in Leipzig in their last friendly before next month's finals being co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine.

Germany face Portugal on June 9 in their first match in Group B which also includes Netherlands and Denmark.

With Bastian Schweinsteiger ruled out of their last pre-tournament test with a nagging thigh injury, Toni Kroos partnered Sami Khedira in a holding midfield role.

POURING RAIN

Captain Philipp Lahm switched from his usual right back position to left back with Jerome Boateng playing on the right where the Bayern Munich central defender is less comfortable.

The Germans, as expected, took the initiative in constant pouring rain but had to wait 20 minutes for their first clear chance when Boateng rattled the post with a curled left-foot shot as Israel defended in numbers.

Gomez broke the deadlock five minutes before halftime, picking up a Thomas Mueller pass in the box and firing high into the net for his 22nd international goal in 52 appearances.

Germany keeper Manuel Neuer was called into action twice soon after the break to rescue the hosts before they upped the tempo again, missing several chances with Lukas Podolski and Mueller among the culprits.

Substitute Schuerrle grabbed their deserved second goal eight minutes from time, rifling home from 20 metres as Germany won their first match this year after two defeats.

(TuoitreNews)

• Vietnamese referee to officiate at 2024 FIFA Futsal World Cup (05/07)
• Spreading love (05/07)
• Poster exhibition spotlights President Ho Chi Minh portrait (04/07)
• 2nd Da Nang Asian Film Festival in full swing (03/07)
• Vietnamese, Singaporean artists launch project on performance art (02/07)
• Youth and Children's Football Tournament – the Summer Sports Festival 2024 concluded (02/07)
• China, Finland enter finale of Da Nang int’l firework fest (01/07)
• Vietnam ranks first at Southeast Asian rowing championship (01/07)