Germany Beat Brazil in Final International Friendly Ahead of Women's Euro 2017

Germany put an end to Brazil's seven-match winning streak on Tuesday, winning their final friendly ahead of the upcoming 2017 Women's European Championship 3-1 at BWT-Stadion am Hardtwald in Sandhausen, Germany.          

Linda Dallmann gave the hosts a deserved lead in the first half as the Germans dominated from start to finish. Brazil hit back early in the second, however, as Ludmila da Silva took advantage of a horrible blunder from goalkeeper Almuth Schult.

Hasret Kayikci restored the lead, and Leonie Maier secured the win late on—the perfect preparation for the upcoming tournament.

Die Nationalelf were expected to dominate and end Brazil's winning streak, and from the opening kick-off, it was one-way traffic in favour of the hosts.

Skipper Dzsenifer Marozsan perhaps should have opened the scoring after a promising attack, but she blasted over from close range.

Germany went agonisingly close through Kayikci, who beat Brazil goalkeeper Barbara but somehow saw the ball stay out after hitting both uprights, as Oliver Moody of DW Sports shared:

A goal seemed inevitable after a barrage of chances, and Dallmann was the one who converted, keeping her composure to push home a rebound.

Per Vavel's Katja Kragelund, the chance was far harder to take than it looked:

Die Nationalelf should have scored more goals in the first half and were left to rue their wastefulness early in the second, when Ludmila pushed on after a back pass and goalkeeper Schult took far too long on the ball, all but gifting the visitors the equaliser.

But Germany didn't let the setback get the better of them and went on the attack again straight away. Their positive intentions were rewarded after 64 minutes, when Kayikci turned a cross into the back of the net.

Moody was impressed by her efforts:

And Maier would add to the lead with a fantastic strike from the right wing, effectively ending the match as a contest.

Germany were far from perfect against a Brazil team lacking some of its key players, but Die Nationalelf remain among the favourites to win the European title in August, with the likes of England and Denmark showing vulnerabilities of late.