The battle of the neighbours on Thursday part II takes place at the Stade de France when Germany, the world champions, face Poland in a Group C match of Euro 2016. The two teams were a part of the same European Championships qualifying group, and the rivalry is renewed in a clash that promises plenty of goals.
Germany were not at their absolute best in their opening match against Ukraine, but they were more than good enough to get the three points. After Shkodran Mustafi put Germany in the lead in the 19th minute, it took until the second minute of second half stoppage time for the world champions to find the insurance goal, courtesy Bastian Schweinsteiger.
While Mustafi netted the winner in their opening match, he might not lineup in the Germany starting XI for this one against Poland in Saint-Denis. That will be dependent on Mats Hummels recovering in time from a calf injury that kept him out of the match against Ukraine.
Joachim Low insisted Hummels will be named in the starting lineup only if he is a 100% fit, with the manager refusing to take any chances against a talented Poland unit, led by Robert Lewandowski.
"There is no point in playing him if he is not fully fit," Low told UEFA's official website just prior to the training session on Wednesday. "We will see how he does in training and then talk to the team doctors to make a decision."
Apart from that change, though, Germany are likely to go in with the same starting XI that beat Ukraine, which means Mario Gotze starting as the "false 9", just ahead of the ridiculously talented trio of Julian Draxler, Thomas Muller and Mesut Ozil. Schweinsteiger, despite scoring, will probably start from the bench again, considering Toni Kroos and Sami Khedira's control in midfield.
Poland are also expected to go with the same outfield players again, with the only change being a forced one. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny has been ruled out with a thigh injury, with former Arsenal teammate Lukasz Fabianski set to take his place in the starting XI.
Lewandowski, who plies his club trade with the German champions Bayern Munich and will be keen to score past his Bayern teammate Manuel Neuer, and Arakdiusz Milik, the goalscorer in the 1-0 win over Northern Ireland, should start up front again, and they will rely on the creative powers of Jakub Blaszczykowski to help them break down Germany's defence.
The Poland defence will probably be the one more tested, though, and how the back four of Lukasz Piszczek, Kamil Glik, Michal Pazdan and Artur Jedrzejczyk cope with the Germany attacking quartet will have the biggest bearing on the final result of this Euro 2016 game.
Confirmed starting XI: Germany: Manuel Neuer; Benedikt Howedes, Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng, Jonas Hector; Toni Kroos, Sami Khedira; Thomas Muller, Mesut Ozil, Julian Draxler; Mario Gotze.
Poland: Lukasz Fabianski; Lukasz Piszczek, Kamil Glik, Michal Pazdan, Artur Jedrzejczyk; Jakub Blaszczykowski, Grzegorz Krychowiak, Krzysztof Maczynski, Kamil Grosicki; Arkadiusz Milik, Robert Lewandowski.
