Niclas Fullkrug got both of Germany’s goals in a simple friendly win over Peru, with Kai Havertz having a goal bizarrely disallowed.
Germany’s first game following their World Cup disappointment ended in a routine 2-0 friendly victory over Peru, though Kai Havertz faltered from the penalty spot.
Hansi Flick’s side bowed out in the group stage in Qatar but made a convincing start to their preparations for Euro 2024 on Saturday.
Niclas Fullkrug’s brace put Germany ahead in Mainz when Havertz hit the post with a free-kick in the 75th minute.
His rebounding finish was disallowed because no other player had touched the ball, although it was a small blemish on an otherwise perfect display for Germany.
Havertz and Fullkrug have been the rare bright sparks of the World Cup and it was the duo who came to the fore with the opening goal on Saturday, the latter finishing sharply from the Chelsea forward’s strike.
Peru goalkeeper Pedro Gallese, who had just denied Matthias Ginter, was unable to keep out Fullkrug’s sharp finish after Havertz had flicked the ball into the striker’s path.
Germany looked to be 2-0 up when Havertz and then Timo Werner had acres of space to shoot from close range, but Gallese’s superb double save kept them at bay.
Gallese was powerless to prevent Fullkrug from tucking in his second goal just after the half-hour mark – the striker turned in Marius Wolf’s brilliant cross.
Luis Advincula’s block denied Fullkrug a third before the break, while Serge Gnabry hit the bar with an audacious overhead kick on the hour mark.
Nico Schlotterbeck had a valid penalty appeal turned down soon after, but referee Maria Ferrieri Caputi reversed her decision after consulting the pitch monitor.
Havertz failed to cash in, with much of the crowd seemingly clueless as to exactly why his finish at the second attempt was disallowed, although Peru never seemed to make Germany regret the decision.
