Germans take on Argies again

Dusseldorf ( Germany), Sept. 2: Fifty days after winning the World Cup for the fourth time, the German national team assembled in Duesseldorf on Monday for Wednesday’s repeat of the final against Argentina.

Wednesday’s match was already set to be a glamour friendly but there is added hype in the wake of Mario Goetze’s extra- time winner when the teams last met in Rio de Janeiro on July 13.

Around 45,000 people watched the World Cupwinners train on Monday and Wednesday’s game at the Espirit Arena will attract a sell- out crowd.

On Sunday, Joachim Loew’s side host Scotland in Dortmund in their first qualifier for Euro 2016. For a German team still taking in the World Cup triumph, the two games have come around quickly.

“I think it’s not easy for us — that’s clear,” Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said.

“For Scotland it's the

I think it’s not easy for us — that’s clear. We have to play well against Argentina with regard to the weekend and to be fully prepared for it. — MANUEL NEUER Germany goalkeeper ahead of his team’s

friendly match against Argentina

game of the year to start against us. We have to play well against Argentina with regard to the weekend and to be fully prepared for it,” he added.

Germany will be without Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose, all of whom retired from international football after this summer’s tournament.

Argentina changed manager after the World Cup, with Gerardo Martino taking over after Alejandro Sabella stepped down. Martino must cope without captain Lionel Messi for his first match in charge. The Barcelona attacker played in a 1- 0 win over Villarreal on Sunday but a groin injury has prevented the 27- yearold from travelling to Germany.

“The priority is not the result. What’s important is that there’s a good atmosphere in the squad,” Martino said before leaving for Duesseldorf.