Florian Wirtz stars as Germany edge past Switzerland in seven-goal thriller

[p]The headline team news for this friendly fixture was the return of Germany striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/havertz-kai/rH8BZWiI/"]Kai Havertz[/a], who led the visitors’ attack on his first international appearance since November 2024.[/p][p]The [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] forward had the game’s first big opportunity following some neat build-up play in the 13th minute, but he side-footed his shot straight at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kobel-gregor/xlBg2ttC/"]Gregor Kobel[/a]. Germany made all the early running, only to fall behind four minutes after that attempt, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/xhaka-granit/QBHCDKff/"]Granit Xhaka[/a] pinched the ball in midfield and switched it to [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ndoye-dan/EmmpFCXN/"]Dan Ndoye[/a], who raced into the box to fire in off the near post.[/p][p]That ended a run of four successive clean sheets for Julian Nagelsmann’s side, but they hit back eight minutes later when centre-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tah-jonathan/2yf8EcuE/"]Jonathan Tah[/a] scored his first Germany goal - on his 44th appearance - with a far-post header from [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wirtz-florian/0Q5gjImi/"]Wirtz[/a]’s teasing cross. [/p][image alt="Wirtz fights for the ball" id="115902f0-97cd-4c61-aea6-33a1d100e854" credit-line="FABRICE COFFRINI / AFP" guid="e48a11b4-7108-41d7-8d0a-1caaca4a4d41" original-width="5172" original-height="3448" /][p]The third goal of this hugely entertaining contest arrived four minutes before half-time, when [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/embolo-breel/CpKkPKuP/"]Breel Embolo[/a] met [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/widmer-silvan/rZFtbGem/"]Silvan Widmer[/a]’s cross with a diving header from close range that gave [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/baumann-oliver/MZ6BATVO/"]Oliver Baumann[/a] no chance.[/p][p]Baumann was beaten again shortly after, but this time luck was on his side, as [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/rieder-fabian/GQOPPSgM/"]Fabian Rieder[/a]’s curling effort from the edge of the box came back off the crossbar.[/p][p][b]There was still time for the visitors to equalise again before the interval, as Wirtz sent a pinpoint through ball into the path of [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/gnabry-serge/6iZjDNFC/"]Serge Gnabry[/a], who dinked his 26th Germany goal past Kobel with the final touch of a breathless half.[/b][/p][p]A quadruple change by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/switzerland/rHJ2vy1B/"]Switzerland[/a] boss Murat Yakin at half-time disrupted his side’s rhythm, and Kobel was forced to tip Wirtz’s dipping strike around the post as Germany continued to probe.[/p][p][b]So, it was no surprise when they took the lead on the hour mark when the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] playmaker took possession on the left corner of the box and whipped in a brilliant strike. [/b][/p][p][b]That goal was hard to top, but Switzerland substitute Monteiro took that challenge personally 11 minutes from time, as he unleashed a terrific shot into the top corner from 20 yards for just his second international goal.[/b][/p][p][b]Wirtz simply had to have the final say, though, and his beautiful curling strike seven minutes la[/b][b]ter left Kobel motionless, taking his tally to nine international goals.[/b][/p][image alt="Match result and goal scorers" id="98181a32-56c4-4f82-be42-0aaabfc7fad0" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="475732d9-a20e-48d4-ae59-b456157a8bad" original-width="1200" original-height="1200" /][p]Germany will hope the 22-year-old can take that form into the FIFA World Cup this summer, while Switzerland must pick themselves up after seeing their 10-match unbeaten run - and 12-match unbeaten streak at St. Jakob-Park - end in dramatic fashion.[/p][p][b]Flashscore Man of the Match: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/wirtz-florian/0Q5gjImi/"]Florian Wirtz[/a] ([a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/germany/ptQide1O/"]Germany[/a])[/b][/p][p][b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/germany-ptQide1O/switzerland-rHJ2vy1B/?mid=xMB436h3"]Check out all the stats from the match here[/a][/b][/p]