England welcome Germany to Wembley Stadium, London, in a dead rubber clash to conclude League A3 in 2022-23 UEFA Nations League.
England are already relegated to League B so will look to finish their campaign on a high with victory ahead of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Germany meanwhile can’t win the group and advance to the League A Finals but a win would see them finish second if Italy fail to beat Hungary elsewhere.
Team News
Jack Grealish is suspended for England after he was booked in Friday’s away defeat to Italy in Milan.
John Stones is available after completing an one-match suspension and could feature amongst various changes, with Marc Guehi, Ben Chilwell and Jordan Henderson also set to be recalled after they were left out of the squad in Italy.
Brentford’s Ivan Toney could make his debut if manager – Gareth Southgate opts to experiment with his forward selection, having also been snubbed from Southgate’s squad selection in Milan.
Germany will be without striker, Lucas Nmecha after he withdrew from the squad with a knee injury which limited him to just five minutes in Friday’s defeat to Hungary in Leipzig.
Antonio Rudiger (suspension) also misses out whilst; Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka, Julian Brandt (all illness), plus Marco Reus (ankle) withdrew prior to Friday’s loss in Leipzig.
Stat Attack
- England drew their only previous UEFA Nations League meeting against Germany, having fought back to draw 1-1 in June 2022.
- Germany are unbeaten in four of their last five visits to England in all competitions (W3, D1, L1).
- The Three Lions have kept clean sheets in their last two home clashes against Germany across all competitions (W1, D1).
- Southgate’s Three Lions are looking to avoid six consecutive matches without victory in all competitions for the first time this century, having last done so in 1993.
- Germany have drawn 1-1 in all three away matches across all competitions in 2022, during which they scored first just once – in a 1-1 friendly draw against Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Prediction
With the World Cup now under two months away and questions swirling over whether Southgate will even still be manager, England need to produce an unbelievable attacking performance because they were toothless in Italy with lacklustre quality across the pitch and no aggressive passion.
Germany meanwhile have their own issues with just one clean sheet in seven matches this year but at least they have demonstrated that they can score goals, although they will be disappointed with a mixed display against Hungary so I expect them to come out with a point to prove.
If that is the case then England better turn up with maximum defensive focus and passionate quick-attacking intensity, otherwise I can see their winless run continuing if Germany play with the same dangerous dominance that Italy showed from the first whistle.
Prediction: England 0-2 Germany
Discussion about this post