Preview: Germany vs. Netherlands

Sports Mole previews the friendly action as hosts Germany welcome the visit of rivals Netherlands to the HDI-Arena in Hannover.

Germany welcome the visit of rivals Netherlands in a friendly fixture on Tuesday night, as Joachim Low and his side return to the pitch after being rocked by terror attacks in their game against France on Friday.

Holland, meanwhile, were recently unable to secure qualification to Euro 2016, but will be trying to build from their friendly win over Wales last week.


Germany

French defender Bacary Sagna (L) vies with Germany's defender Jonas Hector during a friendly international football match between France and Germany ahead of the Euro 2016, on November 13, 2015 at the Stade de France stadium in Saint-Denis, north of Paris© Getty Images

Die Mannschaft are back in footballing action against the Netherlands just four days after the terror attacks that shook Paris on Friday evening.

Germany were facing France at the Stade de France, which fell prey to several explosions as part of coordinated attacks on the French capital that have now left at least 129 people dead.

Germany's decision to go ahead with their friendly fixture against Holland could serve as an act of sporting defiance in the face of the atrocities, as France will also be sticking with their visit to play England at Wembley on Tuesday night.

On Friday Germany were beaten 2-0 courtesy of goals from Olivier Giroud and Andre-Pierre Gignac, and Low will be expecting some sort of reaction to that defeat when coming up against Danny Blind's side.

Germany edged through to Euro 2016 thanks to a final group-game victory over Georgia, but the country will be without a number of key participants as they aim to build into some form ahead of the tournament next summer.

It is thought that up to six Germany players will be missing from the fixture for various reasons, either having left the squad for rests or after suffering from injury.

Recent form: WWWLWL


Netherlands

Netherlands' midfielder Arjen Robben (L) celebrates with Netherlands' midfielder Daley Blind (R) after scoring Netherlands' second goal during the international friendly football match between Wales and Netherlands at Cardiff City Stadium in south Wales o© Getty Images

The Netherlands will be making the trip to Hannover off the back of a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Wales on Friday, as the Dutch side saw Arjen Robben return to international prominence with a brace at the Millennium Stadium.

The current Holland side still has much to prove, as does coach Blind, following their inability to qualify for the Euros next year, which has instead left them looking way ahead to the 2018 World Cup.

Blind will be all too aware that should he keep his job in the coming years, his side will need to start making some drastic improvements to ensure that they do not come unstuck embarrassingly in three years.

Blind has already made the big call of deciding to leave out veteran Robin van Persie from this current friendly squad, instead opting to hand chances to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, Bas Dost and Luuk de Jong.

Dost appeared in good form on Friday as he caused Wales a number of problems before grabbing Holland's opening goal and the Wolfsburg threat will be seeking to build on that performance when he faces Germany.

The Netherlands coach will have some decisions to make that are not too different to those facing Low, given that Oranje are likely to be without three potential starters too.

Recent form: WLLWLW


Team News

Germany's players react after scoring the 2-1 during the Euro 2016 Group D qualifying football match between Germany and Georgia in Leipzig, eastern Germany, on October 11, 2015. © Getty Images

Low will have some challenging calls to make as he finds himself without Manuel Neuer, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger, who are all being rested.

The manager will also be dealing with the absence of defenders Jerome Boateng and Jonas Hector through injury, while Leroy Sane has left to link up with the country's Under-21 outfit.

As for the Dutch, Blind will not be able to call on the services of Eljero Elia due to a groin injury.

Virgil van Dijk and Riechedly Bazoer are also missing because of knocks, although youngster Jurgen Locadia has been called up and could earn his first cap for his country.

Following a pre-agreement between Holland and Bayern Munich, Robben is to be rested for the visit to Hannover.

Germany possible starting lineup:
Trapp; Ginter, Hummels, Mustafi, Can; Gundogan, Kramer; Draxler, Kruse, Muller; Volland

Netherlands possible starting lineup:
Cillessen; Janmaat, Veltman, Bruma, Kongolo; Blind, Clasie; Depay, Sneijder, Promes; Dost


Head To Head

Germany hold a rather favourable record when looking at the sides' recent history against each other. The Germans have lost only once in their last six meetings and that defeat came in a friendly fixture in 2002. The teams last met as part of a 0-0 friendly draw in 2012, while the game before that saw Die Mannschaft beat their rivals 2-1 in the group stages of Euro 2012.


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We say: Germany 1-1 Netherlands

Given what occurred last Friday in Paris, the outcome of this contest will be largely unimportant, but both sides will still be aiming to do the fixture justice after what happened at the Stade de France and across the French capital. Holland will want to build from their victory over Wales and also showcase that they have not been knocked too far back having failed to qualify for Euro 2016. As for Germany, Low will get the chance to look deeper into his squad following the absences in his side. This should be a tight encounter and will likely end in a draw.


Who will win Tuesday's friendly between Germany and the Netherlands?

Germany
Draw
Netherlands
Germany
62.3%
Draw
16.4%
Netherlands
21.4%
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer in action for Germany on July 13, 2014.
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