Summary

  • Werner strike & OG put strong German XI in control

  • Saudis halve deficit from rebound after penalty saved

  • Saudis have strong appeals for last-minute penalty rejected

  • Germany won last meeting 8-0 at 2002 World Cup

  • Croatia fight back to beat Senegal 2-1

  1. Postpublished at 18:34 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Germany 0-0 Saudi Arabia

    Today is midfielder Sami Khedira's 75th appearance for Germany - his first, back in 2009, was also in Leverkusen.

  2. KICK-OFFpublished at 1 min

    Germany 0-0 Saudi Arabia

    We're under way now in Leverkusen.

  3. Postpublished at 18:33 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Where's this famous German efficiency? The game was meant to start three minutes ago.

  4. Postpublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    A good environmental move from Germany...

  5. Postpublished at 18:32 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    In another friendly between Croatia and Senegal, the Balkan side have just equalised through Ivan Perisic. Ismaila Sarr had given Senegal the lead.

  6. LINE-UPSpublished at 18:28 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Germany v Saudi Arabia (18:30 BST)

    As the national anthems are played, here are the line-ups in full.

    Germany: Neuer, Kimmich, Hummels, Boateng, Hector, Kroos, Khedira, Reus, Muller, Draxler, Werner. Subs: Trapp, Plattenhardt, Ginter, Ozil, Goretzka, Sule, Rudiger, Rudy, Brandt, Gundogan, Gomez, Ter Stegen.

    Saudi Arabia: Al-Muaiouf, Al-Shahrani, Osama Hawsawi, Omar Hawsawi, Al-Harbi, Otayf, Al-Faraj, Al-Shehri, Al Dawsari, Al-Jassam, Al-Muwallad. Subs: Al-Mosailem, Al Bulaihi, Al-Breik, Bahbir, Al-Sahlawi, Al-Khaibri, Kanno, Al-Khaibari, Al-Moqahwi, Asiri, Motaz Hawsawi, Al-Owais.

    Referee: Slavko Vincic (Slovenia)

  7. Postpublished at 18:27 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Germany are unbeaten in their seven games in Leverkusen - where this game is being played - winning six and drawing one.

  8. Saudi Arabia's La Liga experimentpublished at 18:24 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Salem Al DawsariImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Salem Al Dawsari's one and only La Liga appearance for Villarreal came on the final day against Real Madrid

    All of Saudi Arabia's players are based in their home country, although three did go on loan to Spanish clubs last season.

    Fahad Al Muwallad, Yahya Al Shehri and Salem Al Dawsari were part of a group of nine Saudi players who went on loan - at no cost to the Spanish clubs - to La Liga and second division clubs.

    However the trio made a combined 59 minutes of league appearances in four months - and the other six aren't in the squad.

  9. Postpublished at 18:22 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Saudi Arabia have won two of their last seven games - all friendlies.

    Juan Antonio Pizzi's side are in Group A with hosts Russia, Egypt and Uruguay.

  10. Quiz timepublished at 18:18 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Can you name the 22 players who started the 2014 World Cup final between Germany and Argentina?

    Have a go here.

  11. Team newspublished at 18:15 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Germany v Saudi Arabia (18:30 BST)

    Germany make seven changes from the side who lost 2-1 to Austria, and name what could be near their starting line-up in Russia.

    Mesut Ozil misses out with a knee injury, but he's expected to be fit in time for the World Cup.

    Manuel Neuer keeps his place in goal after making his return from nine months out the other day. Jerome Boateng plays for the first time since suffering an injury against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final first leg.

    Mats Hummels, Toni Kroos, Timo Werner, Marco Reus, Thomas Muller and Julian Draxler also come in.

    Saudi Arabia make six changes from their 3-0 defeat by Peru - including the return of experienced defenders Omar and Osama Hawsawi, who are not related.

  12. Postpublished at 18:12 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    New Arsenal defender Stephan Lichtsteiner makes his 100th appearance for Switzerland today.

  13. Postpublished at 18:11 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    We will also be bringing you occasional updates from Switzerland's home game with Japan - that kicked off at 18:00 GMT.

    Both those sides are preparing for the World Cup.

  14. A brief historypublished at 18:07 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Germany v Saudi Arabia (18:30 BST)

    Miroslav KloseImage source, Getty Images

    Germany have played Saudi Arabia twice, winning both, scoring 11 goals and conceding none.

    They met in the 2002 World Cup, with Miroslav Klose scoring a hat-trick of headers in an 8-0 win.

    Their previous meeting was a 1998 friendly, with the Germans won 3-0.

  15. Germany's worst streak in 30 yearspublished at 18:03 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Germany v Saudi Arabia (18:30 BST)

    Germany are the world champions, having beaten Argentina in the final four years ago.

    But their decision to set up difficult friendlies might have backfired as they have not won in FIVE games now - their worst run since March 1988. They have lost two in a row.

    Since qualifying they have drawn with England, France and Spain and lost to Brazil and Austria.

    They are in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea.

  16. Germany look for morale-boosting winpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 8 June 2018

    Germany v Saudi Arabia (18:30 BST)

    Q. What do you do when you're on your worst run of results since 1988 going into the World Cup you're hoping to successfully defend?

    A. Play a team who you beat 8-0 in your last meeting before flying to Russia.