Gross snatches victory for Germany in Euro warm-up thriller
Germany edged past Greece 2-1 in a pulsating friendly on Friday night, thanks to a last-gasp winner from Pascal Gross. The Germans, hosting Euro 2024, were given a scare by a determined Greek side who took the lead and threatened an upset.
Greece stuns with early pressure
The 50th-ranked Greeks started brightly, with Christos Tzolis forcing a sensational double save from veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer just six minutes in. The lively forward wouldn’t be deterred, however, and his shot in the 33rd minute took a wicked deflection off Neuer, spilling for Georgios Masouras to tap home from close range. The goal silenced the German crowd, who were clearly expecting a more comfortable evening against lower-ranked opposition.
Havertz equalizes
but Germany struggles to control the midfield
Germany did respond before halftime. Kai Havertz levelled the score, cancelling out Masouras’ opener. However, concerns remained for the Germans, who were overrun in midfield for large parts of the first half. The Greek press stifled Germany’s creativity, and the home team went into the break frustrated.
Dramatic finish
Gross becomes the hero
The second half was a tense affair, with both teams cancelling each other out. As the clock ticked towards full-time, it seemed the match was destined to end in a draw. However, drama unfolded in the 89th minute. Pascal Gross, the Brighton midfielder, unleashed a powerful shot from distance that rocketed past the outstretched arms of Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos, who despite being German-born, couldn’t keep his compatriots at bay. The goal sent the home crowd into raptures, and Germany secured a much-needed victory just a week before their Euro 2024 campaign kicks off.
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Germany with questions to answer despite the win
While the win will provide a confidence boost for Germany, manager [insert manager’s name] will be aware of the areas his team needs to improve on. The midfield struggled to control the game against a lesser opponent, and the defense was shaky at times. However, they showed fighting spirit to come back from a goal down and secure victory. The upcoming week will be crucial for Germany as they fine-tune their tactics and try to address their weaknesses before the Euro begins.
DISCLAIMER: This team is based on the understanding, analysis, and instinct of the author. While selecting your team, consider the points mentioned and make your own decision.
