Germany face Finland in their first pre-World Cup warm-up match on Sunday in Mainz as Julian Nagelsmann’s team look to find rhythm before the tournament begins next month. Germany enter the game with something to prove after back-to-back group-stage exits at the last two World Cups, a run that has weakened their status among the world’s elite despite their long history as a traditional tournament force. Nagelsmann has brought back veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, a member of Germany’s 2014 World Cup-winning squad, in an effort to restore experience and winning standards, but Neuer has been ruled out of the friendly after suffering a calf strain. Oliver Baumann is expected to start in goal.
Finland arrive as clear underdogs, having failed to qualify for the World Cup after finishing behind the Netherlands and Poland in their qualifying group. The match gives Germany another chance to test tactics, personnel and shape with only limited preparation time left before the competition starts. Nagelsmann is expected to use the fixture to assess his outfield players and refine his lineup ahead of a more difficult final phase of preparation.
The friendly is scheduled for Sunday, May 31, at MWEA Arena in Mainz, with kickoff set for 7:45 p.m. BST, 2:45 p.m. ET and 11:45 a.m. PT. Brazilian referee Matheus Candancan will officiate the match.
Broadcast coverage varies by region. In the United States, viewers can watch on Fox Sports, Fox Sports 2, Foxsports.com, the FOX Sports App, ViX and fuboTV. In the United Kingdom, the match is available on Amazon Prime PPV. Canadian coverage is on DAZN Canada and fuboTV Canada, while viewers in Mexico can follow the game on Sky Sports Mexico, Sky+ and izzi.
Germany still have one more friendly after this one, with a June 6 meeting against the United States national team expected to attract major attention. That match will offer another serious test for Nagelsmann’s squad before the World Cup begins. The United States, under Mauricio Pochettino, have lined up a demanding series of pre-tournament opponents, including Belgium, Portugal, Senegal and Germany, in an effort to prepare for hosting the tournament on home soil. The clash with Germany will serve as one of the most important indicators of how both teams are shaping up ahead of the global event.
