The reigning world champions face an under-strength Asian champions in Kaiserslautern on Thursday morning.
Germany and Australia last met in 2011, when the Socceroos avenged their 2010 World Cup mauling with a surprise 2-1 victory in Monchengladbach.
A lot has changed for both sides in the interim.
Holger Osieck was in charge of the green and gold back then, with the likes of Mark Schwarzer, Lucas Neill, Luke Wilkshire, Harry Kewell, Brett Holmam and Brett Emerton still in the ranks.
Joachim Low’s side has also changed a fair bit, but Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos, Andrew Schurrle, Lukas Poldoski, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze continue on from those days.
More recently Germany took out the 2014 World Cup in impressive fashion, while a new-look Australia was still on training wheels in Brazil. But Ange Postecoglou’s fine-tuning paid off in January when the Socceroos took out the Asian Cup. The home team sealed their maiden AFC trophy with an extra-time winner against South Korea.
The next challenge is Germany’s champion side, and they don’t come much tougher.
Australia’s task on Thursday hasn’t been made any easier by the loss of goal-machine Tim Cahill and our most experienced defender, Matthew Spiranovic. Key attacker Robbie Kruse is also unavailable, while Mark Bresciano has hung up his boots in international football. There is also some doubt about whether Asian Cup talisman Massimo Loungo will be right to play, along with striker Tomi Juric.
It’s not the preparation Postecoglou will have wanted. But the coach won’t be using it as an excuse and will have his team filled with confidence and belief. This is Australia’s first game since the Asian Cup final and expectations have been raised.
I don’t expect Australia to take a conservative approach against the Germans, allowing them to play from the back and move the ball freely. The Socceroos will most likely press and harass, try and put Die Mannschaft off their game and upset their rhythm. It’s the Ange attacking ethos.
Germany has a Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia on Monday, a must-win game, so they may have one eye on that match. The Germans currently sit in second place behind Poland in Group D after a 1-1 draw with Ireland. Not qualifying for the Euros is not an option for the European heavyweights.
Kaiserslautern also has some sweet and sour memories for Australia. The Fritz-Walter-Stadio was the scene of some famous fixtures in Australian football history – the 3-1 defeat of Japan at the 2006 World Cup, and the heart-breaking round of 16 injury-time loss to Italy at the same tournament.
The Socceroos will hoping for some more Cahill/Aloisi-type magic, less Gross/Totti pain, come Thursday morning.
Follow John Davidson on Twitter @johnnyddavidson
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