Saturday’s international friendlies: Morocco vs Brazil, Germany vs Peru & Georgia vs Mongolia.
Sunday’s international friendly: New Zealand vs China PR.
📰 Table Of Contents
Morocco vs Brazil
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With no permanent manager in place, we do not know what to expect from Brazil in this friendly.
Following their World Cup quarter-final exit to Croatia on penalties, Tite departed with Ramon Menezes currently in interim charge.
A Seleção are next in competitive action in September, when 2026 qualifying begins, meaning an inexperienced squad has been called up for this trip to Tangier.
Morocco actually got further in Qatar than Brazil, a fact very few would’ve predicted pre-tournament.
So now, Walid Regragui would love to lead Morocco to their first AFCON title since 1976, with the next edition kicking off in just ten months time.
In this friendly at Ibn Batouta Stadium, will the hosts beat a rather unrecognisable Brazilian side?
Germany vs Peru
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As hosts, Germany don’t need to worry about all that qualification malarkey, so Hansi Flick’s side will face nothing but friendlies until the big kick off in June 2024.
Flick is under pressure to deliver in that home Euros, after his team crashed out in the World Cup group stages in November.
That’s actually back-to-back World Cup group phase exits for die Mannschaft, who haven’t won a tournament knockout game since beating Italy on penalties in the Euro 2016 quarters.
This month, Flick has called up mainly younger players, with Malick Thiaw, Josha Vagnoman, Marius Wolf, Felix Nmecha, Mërgim Berisha and Kevin Schade all hoping to make their senior international debuts.
Even with a mix-and-match team, Germany are likely to win this friendly in Mainz.
As for Peru, they qualified for the World Cup in Russia, their first appearance for 36 years, before reaching the Copa América Final the following summer.
However, after last year’s inter-confederation play-off defeat to Australia on penalties, the man who guided them to all that success, Ricardo Gareca, departed.
Now led by Juan Reynoso, la Blanquirroja are looking ahead towards next summer’s Copa América and, ultimately, World Cup qualification in 2026.
Peru have actually won their last three friendly matches, but will do well to make that four at Mewa Arena.
Georgia vs Mongolia
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Will Georgia claim a confident-boosting win, ahead of some tough Euro 2024 qualifiers to come?
The Crusaders have never qualified for a major tournament before, and find themselves in Group A alongside, Spain, Norway, Scotland and Gibraltar.
They’ll kick off their campaign on Tuesday against Norway, without Erling Braut Håland, a game they’ll fancy their chances of winning.
Even if Willy Sagnol’s side don’t take a top two spot, which seems likely, they could make it to the Euros via the play-offs, having secured a spot thanks to their UEFA Nations League performance.
Last year, Georgia accumulated 16 points from six League C matches, scoring 16 goals against Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Gibraltar.
Led by talisman Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Georgia are becoming a force to be reckoned with in international football.
The same cannot be said of visitors Mongolia, who are ranked 183rd in the world by FIFA, with this set to be their first-ever match against European opposition.
The Blue Wolves have still never qualified for an Asia Cup in six attempts, beaten by Palestine and Philippines in last June’s qualifiers.
So, their World Cup qualification campaign kicks off as soon as October, set to face a fellow minnow in a two-legged first round tie.
Here, a comfortable Georgia win seems likely at Batumi Stadium.
New Zealand vs China PR
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For the second time this week, New Zealand and China PR go head-to-head, hoping for a bit more excitement this time.
It finished goalless in Auckland on Thursday, with the home side very much holding on for a draw after centre-back Tommy Smith was sent off on the hour mark.
Will there be a winner, or just some goals at least, in Wellington?
New Zealand will be hoping to end their 16-year World Cup exile next time round, confident of doing so now OFC has one guaranteed spot for the first time ever.
China PR meanwhile haven’t featured at a World Cup since 2002 but, with Asia not allocated eight or nine berths, they too could be at the next edition.
In the more immediate future, Aleksandar Janković’s side are looking forward to next year’s Asia Cup, kicking off in mid-January.
Will the home crowd have something to celebrate at Wellington Regional Stadium in this Sunday afternoon clash?
