© Imago
Friday rated as a successful evening of international football from an FC Bayern perspective: thanks in part to goals from Jonathan Tah and Serge Gnabry, Germany won their friendly against Switzerland 4–3 in Basel. In addition, Lennart Karl came on as a second-half substitute for his senior international debut. With captain Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka, coach Julian Nagelsmann selected two further Munich men for the starting line-up.
FCB stars with equalisers
In his 44th international, Jonathan Tah scored his first goal for Germany | © Imago
After Dan Ndoye had put Switzerland ahead on 17 minutes, Tah brought Germany back into the game nine minutes later. The 30-year-old centre-back was quickest to react after a quickly-taken corner and headed home at the far post to level the scores. Shortly before half-time, Breel Embolo restored the home side’s two-goal lead (41), but once again a Bayern player equalised. Florian Wirtz provided the assist for Gnabry to chip over onrushing keeper Gregor Kobel and into the net (45+2). The teams went into the break with the score at 2-2.
Senior debut for Karl
After the break, Wirtz turned the game around for Germany with a fine strike just after the hour. Shortly afterwards, FCB youngster Lennart Karl made his senior Germany debut: the 18-year-old attacking midfielder came on for Leroy Sané in the 63rd minute and provided a fresh impetus in attack in the closing stages.
The next milestone for rising star Lennart Karl: the attacking player, who came through the ranks at the FC Bayern Campus, made his senior debut for Germany on Friday evening. | © Imago
The Swiss fought back and Joel Monteiro converted the home side’s first shot on goal after the restart to level the score at 3–3 (79). Shortly before the end of normal time, Wirtz then sealed the victory, curling the ball into the top right-hand corner to make it 4–3.
Now Kimmich and his teammates must carry this momentum into their next friendly. On Monday (20:45 CEST), Nagelsmann’s side host Ghana in Stuttgart.
Bischof and Co. down Northern Ireland
Tom Bischof featured for 62 minutes in the Germany U21s match against Northern Ireland. | © Imago
Tom Bischof and the Germany U21 national team also made a successful start to the 2026 international calendar. The Bayern midfielder captained the DFB youth side on Friday evening and celebrated a 3-0 victory over Northern Ireland in the UEFA European Championship qualifiers. The goals were scored by Nicolo Tresoldi (11/penalty, 41) and Nelson Weiper (90).
On Tuesday at 18:00 CEST, coach Antonio Di Salvo’s team will be aiming for top spot in their group. Leaders Greece go into the clash in Athens with a three-point lead over Germany.
Austria romp, England held
Two more players from the German record champions were called up but did not feature in their national teams’ friendlies on Friday evening: Konrad Laimer watched Austria’s 5–1 victory over Ghana from the bench for the full 90 minutes, and Harry Kane was also rested in England’s 1–1 draw with Uruguay.
Thursday’s internationals from an FC Bayern perspective:
March international matches:
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