EURO friendly report card: Germany

Results
Saturday: Germany 2-3 England (Kroos 43, Gomez 57; Kane 61, Vardy 74, Dier 90+1)
Neuer; Can, Rüdiger, Hummels (Tah 46), Hector; Kroos, Khedira; Müller (Podolski 75), Özil, Reus (Schürrle 64); Gomez (Götze 80)

Germany took the lead through Toni Kroos's speculative shot. Jonathan Tah made his Germany bow after half-time, and Mario Gomez ended his four-year wait for a 26th international goal with a header shortly before Harry Kane pulled one back with a fine Cruyff turn and shot. Jamie Vardy was soon brought on and within three minutes equalised with a clever flick from Nathaniel Clyne's cross. Then, in added time, Eric Dier also opened his England account with a header from Jordan Henderson's corner.

Tuesday: Germany 4-1 Italy (Kroos 24, Götze 45, Hector 59, Özil 75; El Shaarawy 83)
Ter Stegen; Rüdiger, Mustafi, Hummels; Rudy, Hector (Ginter 85); Kroos (Kramer 90), Özil; Müller (Can 69), Draxler (Volland 85); Götze (Reus 61)

A fine defensive display and clinical efficiency up front helped Germany inflict a heavy defeat on Italy in Munich. Thomas Müller, who captained Joachim Löw's team for the first time, set up both Kroos and Mario Götze in the first half, before Jonas Hector opened his Germany account and Mesut Özil converted a penalty. Italy got a consolation when Stephan El Shaarawy's shot fwas deflected in by his Roma team-mate Antonio Rüdiger.

Mario Gómez after scoring against England©AFP/Getty Images

What we learned
1) Joachim Löw continues to test different tactical formations, using players in a variety of positions. EURO opponents will have a tough time predicting Germany's tactical approach at the finals.

2) It is not only Bayern that miss Jérôme Boateng.

3) Mario Gomez confirmed his fine Beşiktaş form by writing one of the few positive headlines that emerged from Germany's loss to England.

Questions remain
• Will captain Bastian Schweinsteiger be fit in time to help his side in France?

• Will Löw make a final decision on who is his first-choice right-back before heading to France?

• The two Marios, Götze and Gomez, scored this week despite commentators' doubts about both. Will one of them lead the attack come June?

Room for improvement
Players and members of the Germany coaching staff reiterated that the most important part of the team's EURO preparations will start once the squad meet up on 23 May. Löw is confident his players will be able to significantly step up their performances, and focus on the details, after the domestic season ends.

EURO certainties (if fit)
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern), Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona)

Defenders: Jérôme Boateng (Bayern), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke), Jonas Hector (Köln), Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia)

Midfielders: Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United), Marco Reus (Dortmund), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Sami Khedira (Juventus), İlkay Gündoğan (Dortmund), Julian Draxler (Wolfsburg), André Schürrle (Wolfsburg), Christoph Kramer (Leverkusen)

Forwards: Thomas Müller (Bayern), Mario Götze (Bayern)

Media view
Oliver Fritsch, Zeit online
"Since winning the World Cup, the German national team have not achieved a whole lot. The striking 4-1 win over Italy restored hope that Germany will get their act together once things get serious. Against Italy, every player was determined to dispel the bad impression left by the last match [against England] and the entire post-Rio era."