Germany stretch winning run under Flick with 2-0 victory over Israel

Updated: May 17, 2023, 04:58 am

Germany eased past Israel 2-0 in their friendly international on Saturday, scoring twice in the first half with Kai Havertz and Timo Werner, to make it eight wins in eight matches under coach Hansi Flick.

The Germans, who next face Netherlands in Amsterdam on Tuesday, are eager to get their team ready for the World Cup in November to make amends for their 2018 shock first-round tournament exit.

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"I am satisfied with our game today," Flick said. "We are satisfied with every part of our game.

"I would have been angry if we had conceded in the end though," he said of an Israel stoppage-time penalty awarded after Germany's Nico Schlotterbeck had brought down Yonathan Cohen.

Kevin Trapp, however, saved the spot kick.

"At top level you have to be focused over 90 minutes. We need to learn from that. Imagine doing that at a World Cup," Flick said.

Germany, missing many players including Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger and Serge Gnabry, got off to a slow start.

They had little trouble reaching their opponents' box but struggled with the last pass.

The hosts' first good chance came on the half-hour mark with Israel keeper Ofir Marciano palming a low Havertz shot wide.

Marciano denied the attacking midfielder again in the 36th, blocking another effort from close range, but the keeper was beaten by Havertz's glancing header from the resulting corner.

Germany's Timo Werner (2nd from right) celebrates with Kai Havertz and Ilkay Gundogan (3rd from right) after scoring the team's second goal against Israel.
Uwe Anspach/picture alliance via Getty Images

Germany went into the break with a two-goal cushion when Havertz's Chelsea team mate Werner flicked in an Ilkay Gundogan free kick in first-half stoppage time.

"I am a striker and I want to score goals. At Chelsea it may not be going as I would have wished," Werner, struggling for form at his club, said after bagging his sixth goal in Flick's eight games in charge.

"There are differences in the style when you play for the club or the national team. Maybe it fits me more here. I feel well when I play here."

A number of substitutions in the second half took much of the pace out of the game and Thomas Muller missed a chance to score when his 89th-minute penalty hit the post.

Israel missed their own chance to cut the deficit when Germany's Kevin Trapp saved Yonathan Cohen's stoppage-time spot kick.