International friendly: Germany v Chile match preview

A look ahead to this week’s international friendly at the Mercedes Benz Arena

Joachim Low makes training with Germany (EPA)

Joachim Low’s German national side will host Chile at Stuttgart’s Mercedes Benz Arena. Both nations have qualified for the 2014 World Cup Finals this summer and will be looking forward to finalising their squad for their trip to Brazil. The two nations have never faced each other in a competitive match before, and their meeting in Stuttgart will be a first.

In his eighth year in charge of the national team, Joachim Low’s side have enjoyed an unbeaten run since August 2013. In their last seven fixtures, Germany have drawn twice and won on five occasions. Germany rank second, only behind Spain in Fifa’s national rankings and also boast of reaching the last four of the competition in its three previous editions.

Joachim Low has called up 21 players for the game against Chile in Stuttgart and his squad includes four players who are yet to represent the German national side. The central defensive pair of Matthias Ginter (SC Frieburg) and Shkodran Mustafi (Sampadoria) have been added to the squad along with right-winger Andre Hahn (FC Augsburg) and striker Pierre-Michel Lasogga (Hamburger SV). Germany are unbeaten since August 2013 and the coach has found a balance in the squad by introducing the younger players (the likes of Draxler and Gotze) with the nation’s veterans Lahm, Podolski, Schweinsteiger and Klose (all have surpassed 100 international caps).

Chile will travel to Stuttgart on Wednesday on the back of a 4-0 win against Costa Rica in January. Since August the South American nation have lost just once against Brazil and have racked up five wins from their last eight fixtures since August 2013.

Currently ranked 14th in the world, Jorge Sampaoli’s side finished four points off the top in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying campaign behind Colombia and Argentina. Post qualification wins against England and Costa Rica have followed.

Cardiff City midfielder Gary Medel has been recalled to the national side post a thigh injury the midfielder sustained in a FA Cup tie against Wigan Athletic. Chile who are in Group B along with Spain, Netherlands and Australia will be relying on the services of Barcelona forward Alexis Sanchez and the Juventus duo of Arturo Vidal and Maurcio Isla.

Alexis Sanchez has scored three goals in Chile’s last three wins with Garry Medel chipping in a goal in a 2-0 victory against Ecuador in their last World Cup qualifying game. Joachim Low has a wide range of talent to choose from before he decides which players he’ll be taking to Brazil with him and this encounter in Stuttgart will be the perfect opportunity for the German coach to finalise his starting eleven. Chile have had a strong qualifying campaign en route to the World Cup 2014 finals and will be looking to capitalise against Germany on the back of a win against England and a draw against Spain earlier in the year.

KICK OFF: Wednesday 7.45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS:

None

STATS:

Miroslav Klose can overtake Gerd Muller as the nation’s top goal scorer. Both strikers have scored 68 goals for Germany till date.

Chile finished third behind Argentina and Colombia in the 2014 CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying campaign.

Germany have not lost to South American opposition since February 2013, beating Ecuador 4-2 in May and drawing 3-3 against Paraguay in August 2014.

Chile goal keeper Claudio Bravo is six caps away from equalling Leonel Sanchez’s record of 84 national caps.

ODDS:

Germany to win: 1.35

Chile to win: 7.0

Draw: 4.2