Julian Nagelsmann wants his Germany team to stay perfect as they aim to top Group A at Euro 2024.
The hosts secured qualification for the last 16 by dispatching Hungary 2-0 last time out, following on from their 5-1 demolition of Scotland.
Their final group match sees them take on Switzerland, who are two points behind in second place, meaning a defeat for Germany on Sunday would see the Swiss top the group.
That is a scenario that Nagelsmann is desperate to avoid, as he confirmed there will be few changes to his line-up, despite Germany's progress having been assured.
"Top spot is important. We want to win all our matches," Nagelsmann said.
"I do think it is important to have as many players from the starting 11 on the pitch so that we stay in the rhythm.
"Do not expect to have seven changes to the team. I can rule that out now."
Germany's match with the Swiss will take place in Frankfurt, where England and Denmark played on Thursday, with both sides struggling with how the pitch chopped up.
Deniz Undav, however, says teams simply have to adapt to the surfaces.
"There a still a few days left, so maybe the pitch will improve until then," said the forward.
"But you have to be able to adapt to the conditions. We want to win on Sunday. So, whether we play on grass or stones, we have to win."
Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri, meanwhile, knows his team must expect the sternest of challenges.
"We know we are now up against a team that is of a different calibre with their super attack and the euphoria [as hosts]," he said.
"But we are going into the game with confidence and look forward to it. Obviously, we want to trouble the Germans."
Opta's supercomputer makes Germany favourites to win the group, with a 77% likelihood the hosts finish top.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Switzerland - Xherdan Shaqiri
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in more major international tournaments than Switzerland forward Shaqiri, who has now netted at each of the last six such tournaments since and including the 2014 World Cup.
In fact, Shaqiri is the only European player to have scored at the last six major tournaments.
Germany - Jamal Musiala
Musiala is aiming to become the first Germany player to score in each of his nation's opening three games at a major tournament since Miroslav Klose at the 2002 World Cup, and the first ever to do so at the European Championship.
Aged 21 years and 118 days when this game is played, he would be the second-youngest player ever to do so for any nation, behind only Peru's Teofilo Cubillas (21y 94d) at the 1970 World Cup.
MATCH PREDICTION: GERMANY WIN
This will be Switzerland and Germany's first encounter at a major tournament since the 1966 World Cup; West Germany beat Switzerland 5-0 in the group stages. They also met in the 1938 and 1962 World Cups.
Germany have won each of their last three games at major international tournaments by 2+ goals (4-2 v Costa Rica, 5-1 v Scotland, 2-0 v Hungary) with the Netherlands at the 1974 World Cup the last nation to record four such victories in a row.
They are aiming to become the third host nation to win all three of their group stage games at a single edition of the European Championship after the Netherlands in 2000 and France in 1984.
Meanwhile, they would be the first host team to do so at a major international tournament since the Germans themselves at the 2006 World Cup (Excluding Euro 2020 - 11 host nations).
However, Switzerland are unbeaten in their last three matches against Germany (W1 D2), with those three matches producing 16 goals, an average of 5.3 per game. The Swiss had lost 16 of their previous 18 matches against the Germans (D2), so they should certainly not be discounted.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Switzerland - 23.5%
Germany - 52.3%
Draw - 24.2%
Montreal v Philadelphia Union: Curtin 'hurt' by recent MLS streak
Jim Curtin has said he will take the full burden of Philadelphia Union's poor recent form as they look to bounce back against fellow strugglers Montreal this Sunday.
The Union are without a win in their last six MLS fixtures, with their latest defeat coming at the hands of Charlotte FC in front of their home supporters last time out.
Curtin's side have managed just 20 points in their 19 league games after recording at least 32 at this stage in four of the previous five seasons.
And the Philadelphia head coach acknowledged his side's struggles in recent weeks, but highlighted the injuries within his squad as a major factor in their winless streak.
"The fingers are pointed at me first, and I accept that, and I take the responsibility for the current run that we are on," Curtin said.
"It hurts, but I still think the players are trying and giving everything that they can, but at the moment it is just not enough.
"We know that we're missing five to six key guys, and it hurts right now, and it's tough for us to catch a break and score a goal to make a play that changes the game."
Meanwhile, Montreal are enduring a losing streak of their own and are without a triumph since their 4-2 win over DC United back in May.
Laurent Courtois' side were beaten 4-1 by Colorado Rapids in their last MLS fixture, leaving them a point above bottom side Chicago Fire in the Eastern Conference.
L'Impact face a tough test should they want to return to winning ways this Sunday, having won one of their last nine meetings with the Union (D4 L4) dating back to October 2020.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Montreal – Josef Martínez
Martinez has scored eight career goals against the Union in all competitions, having only scored more against Orlando (9).
However, Curtin’s side have managed to keep the Venezuelan at bay in recent meetings, having shut the striker out in each of the last four league meetings, with his last league goal against them coming back in 2019.
Philadelphia – Tai Baribo
In the absence of top scorer Julian Carranzo (10) and Daniel Gazdag (10), Baribo has the opportunity to take centre stage for the Union against Montreal.
The Israeli scored his first two goals for the club on his first start in their 4-3 defeat to Cincinnati, and will be looking to rediscover his goal-scoring touch at the Stade Saputo.
MATCH PREDICTION: PHILADELPHIA WIN
The Union come into the encounter as marginal favourites despite their six-game winless streak, but their impressive record against their opponents will give them some much-needed confidence.
Philadelphia have lost just one of their last nine meetings with Montreal (W4 D4), but that defeat came in the last meeting between the two sides, losing 3-2 back in March 2023.
Montreal have won just one of their last 14 matches in all competitions (D7 L6) dating back to mid-April. They are one of three MLS teams, along with the Union and St. Louis City SC, with only one victory in all competitions in that time.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Montreal – 35.3%
Draw – 26%
Philadelphia – 38.7%
Atlanta United v Toronto FC: Reds must go back to basics to halt losing run, says Herdman
John Herdman has said that Toronto must go back to basics to halt their six-game winless run ahead of their trip to Atlanta United on Sunday.
The Reds fell to their third consecutive MLS defeat away to the New York Red Bulls last time out and have scored just four goals in their last five league fixtures.
Toronto enter the encounter in eighth place ahead of their trip to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, three points ahead of their opponents in the Eastern Conference.
Herdman's side Toronto FC has won only two of their last 30 away matches (D7 L21) dating back to September 2022, but the 48-year-old is keen to put an end to that run.
“We'll get back,” said Herdman. “As I've said to the lads, they just have to go to the next task.”
“That's all we can control at the moment,” he closed. “Just next task, back to basics, and then looking at evolving tactically for a tough match at Atlanta.”
For Atlanta, they are now unbeaten in their last three MLS games, having come from a goal down to draw with St. Louis City last Sunday.
Rob Valentino's side, however, have struggled at home in recent weeks and are without a win in seven (D2 L5), leaving them in ninth heading into the encounter.
The Five Stripes enter a busy period of the campaign, playing six matches in 18 days, starting by welcoming Toronto to Georgia, something which goalkeeper Brad Guzan knows about during his time in the Premier League.
“One of the most important things is being able to rest and recover mentally and physically," said Guzan.
So that when you step on the field for the next game, you are ready to go."
Atlanta – Daniel Rios
Having been an unused sub in consecutive games against Inter Miami and Charlotte, Rios has returned to the starting line-up with the desired impact, scoring two goals in his last three games.
The Mexican's equaliser against St. Louis City on Saturday came from a free-kick, the first non-penalty set-piece goal Atlanta have scored all season.
Toronto – Federico Bernardeschi
Should Toronto get back to winning ways, the experience and skill of Bernardeschi will be key, having provided 12 goal involvements from 17 MLS appearances this season.
The Italian has four goals in his last five league games, and has previously scored twice against the Five Stripes.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA WIN
Atlanta will be confident of maintaining their impressive record against their opponents at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium this weekend, having gone seven games without defeat (W3 D4).
But the Five Stripes will be wary of their recent home record. Valentino’s side are winless in seven straight games in front of their home supporters, (D2 L5) having not recorded a home win since March 31.
Despite their 3-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls last time out, Toronto can take confidence from the defeat. It marked just the fifth time all season that Toronto failed to find the net. Last season, Toronto was shut out an MLS-record 18 times as the Reds already have more goals this season (28) than they managed in 2023 (26).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta – 60.6%%
Draw – 20.7%%
Toronto – 18.7%
John Herdman has said that Toronto must go back to basics to halt their six-game winless run ahead of their trip to Atlanta United on Sunday.
The Reds fell to their third consecutive MLS defeat away to the New York Red Bulls last time out and have scored just four goals in their last five league fixtures.
Toronto enter the encounter in eighth place ahead of their trip to the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, three points ahead of their opponents in the Eastern Conference.
Herdman's side Toronto FC has won only two of their last 30 away matches (D7 L21) dating back to September 2022, but the 48-year-old is keen to put an end to that run.
“We'll get back,” said Herdman. “As I've said to the lads, they just have to go to the next task.”
“That's all we can control at the moment,” he closed. “Just next task, back to basics, and then looking at evolving tactically for a tough match at Atlanta.”
For Atlanta, they are now unbeaten in their last three MLS games, having come from a goal down to draw with St. Louis City last Sunday.
Rob Valentino's side, however, have struggled at home in recent weeks and are without a win in seven (D2 L5), leaving them in ninth heading into the encounter.
The Five Stripes enter a busy period of the campaign, playing six matches in 18 days, starting by welcoming Toronto to Georgia, something which goalkeeper Brad Guzan knows about during his time in the Premier League.
“One of the most important things is being able to rest and recover mentally and physically," said Guzan.
So that when you step on the field for the next game, you are ready to go."
Atlanta – Daniel Rios
Having been an unused sub in consecutive games against Inter Miami and Charlotte, Rios has returned to the starting line-up with the desired impact, scoring two goals in his last three games.
The Mexican's equaliser against St. Louis City on Saturday came from a free-kick, the first non-penalty set-piece goal Atlanta have scored all season.
Toronto – Federico Bernardeschi
Should Toronto get back to winning ways, the experience and skill of Bernardeschi will be key, having provided 12 goal involvements from 17 MLS appearances this season.
The Italian has four goals in his last five league games, and has previously scored twice against the Five Stripes.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLANTA WIN
Atlanta will be confident of maintaining their impressive record against their opponents at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium this weekend, having gone seven games without defeat (W3 D4).
But the Five Stripes will be wary of their recent home record. Valentino’s side are winless in seven straight games in front of their home supporters, (D2 L5) having not recorded a home win since March 31.
Despite their 3-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls last time out, Toronto can take confidence from the defeat. It marked just the fifth time all season that Toronto failed to find the net. Last season, Toronto was shut out an MLS-record 18 times as the Reds already have more goals this season (28) than they managed in 2023 (26).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atlanta – 60.6%%
Draw – 20.7%%
Toronto – 18.7%
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