…

Germany’s young guns proved they are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with as they turned on the style to beat Brazil 3-2 in Stuttgart with rising star Mario Goetze in dazzling form.

In a friendly televised live in 190 countries, Bastian Schweinsteiger opened the scoring from the penalty spot before 19-year-old debutant Goetze and Andre Schuerrle netted for the hosts.…

Football legend Franz Beckenbauer has hailed rising star Mario Goetze as Germany’s equivalent of Argentina’s Lionel Messi ahead of the Germans friendly against South American giants Brazil on Wednesday.

Goetze was lavished with praise over the weekend after playing a commanding role in Borussia Dortmund’s impressive 3-1 win over Hamburg on Friday as they opened their defence of the Bundesliga title.

Having set up team-mate Kevin Grosskreutz for the first goal, Goetze added the second with a deft chip and caused the Hamburg defence constant problems.

He has been named by coach Joachim Löw in the starting lineup to face Brazil in a friendly and arrived at the team hotel in Stuttgart on Sunday as the name on everyone’s lips.…

Rising star Mario Goetze will make his first start for Germany in Wednesday’s friendly against five-time World Cup winners Brazil, coach Joachim Löw said on Tuesday.

The 19-year-old will be winning his seventh cap, but will start for the first time as Germany look for their first win over the South Americans in 18 years.…

…

Australia’s Socceroos shocked Germany 2-1 in Mönchengladbach, taking a measure of revenge for their comprehensive defeat against Joachim Löw’s men in last year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Germany’s perfect record in competitive matches stretches back to their defeat at the hands of Spain in the semifinals in South Africa, yet in friendly matches the side has been anything but stellar.

“I think it can be a question of attitude,” substitute Miroslav Klose said after the match. “One can prepare very well, and then still be a bit too sloppy during the game. We shouldn’t let that happen.”…

Germany will be without captain Philipp Lahm, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira for their friendly against Australia on Tuesday.

Coach Joachim Löw has released the trio as he prepares to use an experimental side for the match in Monchengladbach to take a closer look at several new players and try out different tactics.…

Denmark recovered from two goals down to grab a deserved 2-2 draw with Germany in the two nations’ first fixture since the World Cup.

Mario Gomez put Germany ahead against the run of play in the 19th minute and Patrick Helmes added a second in the 73rd.

However, Dennis Rommedahl and Mads Junker struck back to ensure that Morten Olsen’s side earned a draw in Copenhagen.

Both coaches were deprived of the majority of their regular first-team squads for this friendly match, which fell at an unfortunate time with domestic seasons on the verge of beginning and numerous players, mainly from the regular Germany squad, only just back in training following the World Cup.

Denmark’s players have had a longer holiday this summer following their early elimination in South Africa and they looked fresher early on.

Daniel Agger went close with a header in the seventh minute before a succession of dangerous free-kicks from Christian Eriksen threatened Tim Wiese’s goal.

Yet it was the visitors who went ahead with their first attack in the 19th minute.

Thomas Hitzlsperger was the provider, although his finely-threaded throughball seemed to be aimed at Toni Kroos, although it fell perfectly for Gomez to collect …