In preparation for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, Mexico and USA, Germany played Switzerland in a friendly at the St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Angelo Stiller started in the eventful 4-3 win and was substituted for Pascal Groß after 80 minutes. With a pass completion rate of 92 per cent from 79 touches of the ball, the VfB midfielder impressed in his usual manner in the centre of the park.
Alexander Nübel, Josha Vagnoman, Chris Führich and Deniz Undav were all unused substitutes, as was Luca Jaquez for the Swiss.
Comfortable win for Jeltsch and U21s
Finn Jeltsch was in action for Germany U21s, playing 62 minutes in a 3-0 win over Northern Ireland in European Championship qualifying. With 15 points from six matches, Antonio Di Salvo’s team are in second place in the table behind Greece.
Chema is also involved in qualifying for next summer’s Under-21 Euro in Albania and Serbia with the Spain U21 side, but the VfB midfielder did not feature in the 7-0 win against Cyprus.
Duo with substitute appearances in draw
Two other VfB players went head-to-head on Friday evening in Bilal El Khannouss and Jeremy Arévalo. Morocco and Ecuador drew 1-1 in a friendly in Madrid, with El Khannouss coming on in the 72nd minute with his team 1-0 down and Arévalo also making a cameo appearance in stoppage time after Morocco had equalised in the 88th minute.
