Basel [Switzerland], March 29: Florian Wirtz scored a brace and set up the other two as visiting Germany came from behind twice to win a World Cup tune-up match 4-3 in Switzerland on Friday.
The Swiss led from Dan Ndoye in the 17th and again from Breel Embolo in the 41st after mistakes from Germany defender Nico Schlotterbeck, but Germany levelled from Jonathan Tah in the 26th and Serge Gnabry on the stroke of half-time.
Both goals were set up by Wirtz before the Liverpool forward curled the third himself into the top corner in the 61st off a short corner.
The efficient Swiss hit back from Joel Monteiro in the 79th but Wirtz wasn't finished yet and grabbed an 86th-minute winner with another stunner.
Exciting Bayern Munich teenager Lennart Karl came on for his maiden Germany cap in the second half and Germany ended a run of four games without victory against the Swiss with a first victory since 2008.
Wirtz the star Wirtz told broadcasters RTL it was "probably" his best national team game and said he was "not concerned" about the defensive lapses that allowed the Swiss to score three times.
"We have a very good team and a very good defence. You could see we havent't played together in a while. All three goals could have been avoided but we can always score up front," he said.
Looking at the World Cup, he added: "We want to reacht the final and win the cup. It will be a tough path but we don't have to hide from anyone and have a very good squad." Deserved win Coach Julian Nagelsmann said "we know that he (Wirtz) has a a great shot and brutal quality" as he spoke of "a deserved victory overall.
"We had a lot of chances and should have scored a fourth after the 3-2.
The Swiss scored many goals out of few chances. To come back like this in a test is good. The defence was not always good, a little passive." Swiss efficient but Germany hit back Arsenal forward Kai Havertz, back after more than a year, had a first chance in the 13th but it was the Swiss who drew first blood.
Schlotterbeck played a bad pass, Granit Xhaka spotted Ndoye completely unmarked on the left because Germany captain Joshua Kimmich had moved into midfield, and Ndoye had lots of space to run towards goal and fire past Oliver Baumann in off the near left post.
The joy was short-lived as Bayern Munich centre back Tah headed the equalizer at the far corner off a short corner and a cross from Wirtz.
Germany had further chances but the Swiss proved more clinical again when Embolo sneaked behind Tah to head home in the 41st for 2-1 after Schlotterbeck gave up the ball again.
The Swiss almost got a third shortly afterwards when Fabian Rieder fired against the crossbar.
Instead, Germany were level again at 2-2 with the last kick of the half when Wirtz' long ball found Gnabry who flicked past goalkeeper Grogor Kobel.
Wirtz makes the difference Wirtz broke the deadlock in the 61st when he received another short corner from Gnabry and converted himself in off the crossbar into the far corner.
Monteiro levelled in the 79th with the first Swiss shot of the half but Wirtz curled into the top right corner again in the 86th for the German win off substitute Pascal Gross.
Germany continue their warm-up for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada on Monday against Ghana while the Swiss continue their preparations in Norway on Tuesday.
Source: Qatar Tribune
