Euro 2024 hosts Germany will be aiming to return to winning ways when they take on Turkey in an international friendly in Berlin on Saturday night.
Germany have not played a competitive fixture since the 2022 World Cup, with all nine of their matches this year friendly encounters, but Turkey have been in a qualification process for next summer's European Championship, with their position in the finals secured ahead of their final game against Wales.
Match preview
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Germany's position as hosts of Euro 2024 means that they automatically qualified for next summer's tournament, with the team therefore taking part in friendlies this year.
DFB-Elf actually only won one of their opening six friendlies of 2023, suffering four defeats in the process, but they have beaten France and the United States, in addition to drawing with Mexico, in their last three.
Julian Nagelsmann's side will take on Austria in their final match of the year next Tuesday, and the upcoming fixtures will again be incredibly important when it comes to building patterns of play, even if there is not anything significant on the line.
Germany, as mentioned, have not played a competitive match since beating Costa Rica 4-2 at the 2022 World Cup last December, with the result not enough to send them into the knockout round of the competition.
DFB-Team have now been eliminated in the group stage of the last two World Cups, but they have a relatively strong recent record in the European Championship, making the final in 2008, semi-finals in 2012 and 2016, and the round of 16 at Euro 2020.
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Turkey, meanwhile, have enjoyed a strong European Championship qualifying campaign, picking up 16 points from their seven matches in Group D courtesy of a record of five wins, one draw and one defeat.
Vincenzo Montella's side are top of their section and already through to the finals, meaning that there is no major pressure on them to pick up a positive result against Wales in their final match next Tuesday.
Turkey suffered a 4-2 defeat to Japan in their last friendly on September 12, but they have won their two games ahead of this one, beating Croatia 1-0 and Latvia 4-0 during the October international break.
The Crescent-Stars were not present at the 2022 World Cup, with their last participation in the finals of that tournament coming in 2002, when they finished in third position.
Turkey made the semi-finals of Euro 2008, but they have been eliminated in the group stage of their last two European Championship finals, including at Euro 2020, so there is plenty of room for improvement.
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Team News
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Bayern Munich's Jamal Musiala is a notable absentee from the Germany squad for the November internationals, with the attacker unavailable for selection due to a hamstring problem.
There are five uncapped players in the latest squad, with Werder Bremen's Marvin Ducksch, Bayer Leverkusen's Robert Andrich and Hoffenheim's Grischa Promel the three outfield players who will be bidding to make their first appearances for the national side.
Head coach Nagelsmann will again want to have a good look at his squad in this match, but a strong XI should take to the field for the first whistle, with Julian Brandt potentially being introduced due to Musiala's absence, while Leroy Sane and Florian Wirtz could again support Niclas Fullkrug in the final third.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen, though, will not be involved for Germany due to a back injury, which will see him return to Barcelona for tests.
Felix Nmecha was called up but had to withdraw through injury, while Nico Schlotterbeck is another notable absentee from the selection, being overlooked by Nagelsmann.
As for Turkey, head coach Montella is also expected to name a strong XI for this match, as it will be a good test of the team's ability to match top-quality opposition.
Kerem Akturkoglu has caught the eye for Galatasaray this season and is again expected to operate in a wide position, while Baris Alper Yilmaz and Yunus Akgun should also feature in the first XI.
The experienced Cenk Tosun is the leading goalscorer in the squad with 20, while the captain Hakan Calhanoglu has 17, and the Inter Milan midfielder should again feature in the starting side for his country here.
Germany possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Tah, Hummels, Rudiger, Henrichs; Kimmich, Gundogan; Wirtz, Brandt, Sane; Fullkrug
Turkey possible starting lineup:
Cakir; Kadioglu, Akaydin, Bardakci, Ozkacar; Akgun, Calhanoglu, Yuksek, Ozcan, Akturkoglu; Yilmaz
We say: Germany 2-2 Turkey
This has all of the makings of a very interesting match, and we are expecting goals on Saturday. Turkey's qualification for Euro 2024 means that Montella should name a strong team here, and with a lot of attacking talent on both sides, we are predicting an entertaining draw this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Matt Law
