Match Day Thread: Germany vs. Israel (UPDATED w/ Video)

Just a friendly, but it looks like it might be available on ESPN 3 and/or ESPN Deportes, so we'll go ahead and put up a Match Day Thread. If anyone picks it up on Eurosport or elsewhere, let us know, but no illegal links. This one is being held in Leipzig, the beautiful city on the border of Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. I think.

The DFB's site gives this as Germany's starting XI:

Gomez

Mueller - Ozil - Podolski

Khedira - Kroos

Boateng - Mertesacker - Badstuber - Lahm

Neuer

As we know, Bastian is out with a calf problem, but will hopefully eb ready to go by the start of Group Stage play. The DFB's site isn't entirely clear on who's left and who's right, so the Mueller / Podolski placement was guesswork on my part. Either way, hopefully they're both active, mobile and moving laterally to get open, and hopefully Die Nationalelf pick up a confidence-boosting win and avoid any injuries.

This is going to be a peaceful thread. Any ongoing disputes or disagreements you have with each other - leave 'em at the door.

* * * *

2-0 to Germany is your final. Midfield and defense largely played well, the forwards did enough to earn the win but left too many chances on the table. Podolski and Kroos both need to find their shooting touch. Keep in mind, though, there was a heavy rain and a wet pitch, and also that there might have been a handball in the area by Israel that went uncalled.

Video highlights - Gomez with the first, using his body to create space:

Schurrle with the second - nice piece of work:

So, not a bad way workout ahead of the European Championships. A few decisions left to Loew to make, but it looks like Lahm at LB and Boateng at RB will be the FB pairing. Boateng looked very sharp today.