Germany have experimented with strikers in recent months but expect Thomas Muller to lead the line against Japan.
Youssoufa Moukoko from Werder Bremen Niclas Fuellkrug Borussia Dortmund was called in as head coach Hansi Flick was looking for a more traditional front man after eight years of false nine experiments under Joachim Lowe.
Fuellkrug, 29, made his debut last week and scored the winning goal against Oman alongside Moukoko, who at 18 is the youngest player at the World Cup.
But it should be Muller in the first game after returning to training at the weekend, along with Antonio Rudiger. Muller is looking to score his 11th World Cup goal.
For Japan, Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu was rested for the friendly against Canada and should be ready to start.
Karou Mitoma and Wataru Endo are also in contention, but Hidemasa Morita is trying to shake off a calf problem.
Alongside Takuma Asano, former Liverpool winger Takumi Minamino will lead the line.
Predicted Germany XI:
Neuer; Kehrer, Sule, Rudiger, Raum; Kimmich, Gundogan; Gnabry, Musiala, Sane; Muller
Predicted Japan XI:
Gonda; Sakai, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Nagatomo; Shibasaki, Endo, Kamada; Ito, Asano, Minamino
Leave a comment