Germany take on Brazil in a friendly on Wednesday with the hosts looking for a rare win over the South American giants to claim a confidence-boosting start to the season.
The clash will be the first meeting of the two nations since June 2005, when Brazil beat their hosts 3-2 in a Confederations Cup semi-final in Nuremberg.
Germany have not beaten Brazil since a 2-1 win in Cologne in 1993 and in 20 meetings between the teams, Germany have won just three times, with five draws and 12 defeats.
The mouth-watering match at Stuttgart’s newly renovated Mercedes-Benz-Arena will be a 54,767 sell-out.
With a ten-point gap at the top of their Euro 2012 group, Germany can book their place at next year’s tournament in Poland and the Ukraine in qualifiers later this autumn, but want to beat Brazil to boost confidence.
“They are one of the most successful football nations in the world and enjoy all the reputation of playing very attractive football,” said German coach Joachim Loew. “No other team has such a collection of outstanding individuals in its ranks.” Having finished third at the 2010 World Cup and beaten finalists at the hands of Spain at Euro 2008, German team manager Bierhoff feels now is the time for Germany to start imposing themselves – starting with Brazil.
“Players like (Bayern Munich’s) Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm are already fed up with second and third places,” said Bierhoff.
“It is now time time for us to win a title and I hope that the golden generation of Spaniards is getting tired.”
Brazil are also looking to start a new era after their quarter-final exit from the Copa America last month after losing to finalists Paraguay.
“We are going to start a new phase,” said coach Mano Menezes.“It’s a friendly match, but it’s also a high level match against Germany in Germany.
“We are a young team and our players now have an important tournament under their belts.”
Two Brazilians who ply their trade in the Bundesliga have been named in the squad in Luiz Gustavo (Bayern Munich) and Renato Augusto (Bayer Leverkusen), but Liverpool’s Lucas Leiva and Chelsea’s David Luiz are both out.
Luiz has tendonitis in his left knee, while Leiva is suspended after red card against Paraguay in Copa America, but Menezes expects big things from Bayern’s Gustavo, who has been called up for the first time.
“Luiz Gustavo is a left-footed midfielder who has the capacity to open up the left side of the pitch,” said Menezes.
“He has had some good results in Germany for the past three years.”
Loew has called up uncapped midfielders Ilkay Gundogan from Borussia Dortmund and Moenchengladbach’s Marco Reus whilst the rest of the squad is packed with players who starred at the World Cup including Lahm, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and midfielder Schweinsteiger.
Stuttgart’s Brazil-born forward Cacau has been called up to face the country of his ancestors at his home club while Lazio’s veteran striker Miroslav Klose is the only player playing overseas named.
Hosts Germany looking for rare win over Brazil
