Discover how Germany triumphed over Finland in a friendly, with Undav’s impressive brace and Musiala’s goal contributing to a significant Mainz rout.
A Masterclass of Power and Youth at the Mewa Arena
The countdown to the FIFA World Cup 2026 is entering its final, high-octane stretch, and four-time world champions Germany are peaking at the exact right moment. In their final emotional farewell match on home soil before boarding the plane to North America, Julian Nagelsmann’s glittering side put on a spectacular, jaw-dropping attacking masterclass. Playing in front of a heavily partisan, roaring crowd at the beautiful Mewa Arena in Mainz, the Nationalelf completely steamrolled a helpless Finland team, walking away with a resounding 4-0 international friendly victory. See also: Joshua Kimmich Named Captain as Germany Unveils Official 26-Man World Cup
With the tournament less than two weeks away, Nagelsmann used the encounter to experiment with his tactical depth. He handed rare, highly valuable opportunities to his fringe ranks and rising starlets while resting key figures like Kai Havertz, who was away following the UEFA Champions League final. The results were nothing short of terrifying for the rest of the footballing world. Germany displayed a lethal combination of veteran leadership, generational playmaking, and a glimpse of an incredibly bright future, keeping 65% of the ball and peppering the Finnish goal with 22 total shots.
Undav Stakes His Claim: The Striker’s Opening Aerial Salvo
From the very first whistle, Germany looked determined to turn their homecoming match into a festival of fluid, expressive attacking football. The absence of Havertz naturally left a vacancy in the center-of-the-attack line, but Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav filled those boots to absolute perfection. Undav turned the match into a personal masterclass of movement and clinical positioning, terrorizing the outclassed Finnish backline all evening.
The early phase of the match saw Germany repeatedly knock on the door, with 18-year-old debutant Lennart Karl looking incredibly lively, cutting in from the right flank. The breakthrough finally arrived in the 34th minute, courtesy of a moment of pure quality from the team’s captain. Operating out on the right wing, Joshua Kimmich looked up and delivered a trademark, beautifully curved cross into the heart of the penalty area. Undav anticipated the flight perfectly, peeling away from his marker to direct a flawless, powerful header past the helpless Lukas Hradecky to make it 1-0.
Flash of Genius: Wirtz Doubles the Advantage After the Break
Faced with a one-goal deficit, Finland attempted to adjust their structural defensive blocks during the halftime interval. However, any thoughts of a European fightback were rapidly erased just three minutes into the second half through a moment of absolute tactical sharpness.
In the 48th minute, Germany’s intense, high-pressing system reaped immediate rewards. Undav pounced ruthlessly on a sloppy, loose defensive pass from Finland’s Ville Koski deep inside the final third. The clever striker intercepted the ball, drove toward the box, and cut a perfectly weighted, unselfish square pass across the face of the goal. Speeding into the area from the opposite wing, Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz timed his run to absolute perfection, tapping the ball effortlessly into the open net to make it 2-0 and completely deflate the visitors.
Bittersweet Brace: Undav Strikes Again Before Injury Heartbreak
With the victory safely trending in their direction, Germany began playing with absolute freedom. The youthful midfield engine room, marshaled beautifully by Aleksandar Pavlovi? and Felix Nmecha, controlled the tempo of possession with a staggering 92% passing accuracy.
In the 57th minute, Undav found himself in the thick of the action once more. The electric teenage debutant Lennart Karl orchestrated the transition perfectly, driving through the center before slipping a precision-engineered pass directly into the path of the forward. Undav burst onto the ball, brushed off a challenge, and coolly slotted a low driving strike into the far corner to seal his brace and stretch the lead to an emphatic 3-0.
Tragically, the stadium’s cheers turned to immediate concern. Undav pulled up clutching his leg right after striking the ball, forcing Nagelsmann to substitute him out immediately for Maximilian Beier. It was the lone setback on an otherwise flawless night for the hosts.
Welcome Return: Musiala Puts the Final Gloss on a Perfect Night
If the Mainz crowd was dampened by Undav’s sudden injury, they were treated to a magical moment of pure joy just six minutes later. In the 63rd minute, Bayern Munich superstar Jamal Musiala capped off a dream narrative. Playing his very first match for the national team since March 2025 after a grueling recovery from a broken leg, the dynamic playmaker looked incredibly hungry to make a statement.
Collecting a sharp pass just inside the penalty area, Musiala showcased his world-class quality. He slithered past two converging Finnish defenders with his signature intricate footwork, creating an inch of space before blasting a fierce, unstoppable shot past Hradecky. The 4-0 scoreline triggered a massive wave of celebration across the arena.
At the other end of the pitch, backup goalkeeper Oliver Baumann enjoyed an immensely quiet evening, as a resolute defensive line anchored by Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck ensured Finland finished the match with zero shots on target. It was a clinical, dominant shutout that sends Germany to their final warm-up match against the United States in Chicago with sky-high morale.
