Socceroo Leckie keen to play Germany

Performing well against world champions Germany is the kind of thing that gets you noticed, says Socceroos star Mathew Leckie, who’s relishing the chance to take on the footballing giants next year.

The Socceroos will play Germany in a friendly in Kaiserslautern on March 25 as the World Cup winners tune-up for their Euro 2016 qualifiers, German team manager Oliver Bierhoff confirmed on Tuesday in Berlin.

Leckie was labelled the revelation of the Socceroos in Brazil and turned heads with his standout performances in all three games against Chile, the Netherlands and Spain.

The 23-year-old, who plies his trade with German second tier club FC Ingolstadt, says putting in a good showing against the world No.1 team would be the ultimate.

“Over the last year we’ve played some great teams and Germany at the moment are obviously the best,” he said from Osaka, where the Socceroos are preparing to face Japan on Tuesday.

“Me being over in Germany I get to watch all their players week-in, week-out and they’ve got some unbelievable players.

“So to be able to come up against them will be a massive test and also a real pleasure.

“If we play them and perform those are the type of games that get people looking at you as a player so it will be a great experience.”

The March 25 fixture will be Germany’s first international clash of 2015 before they play a Euro 2016 qualifier against Georgia in Tbilisi.

Australia beat the Germans 2-1 when the teams last met in March 2011 in Moenchengladbach.

Germany have also arranged a meeting with the United States in June.