On Monday in Bremen, a friendly match between Germany and Ukraine ended in a 3-3 draw thanks to a penalty kick by Germany's captain Joshua Kimmich.
With less than ten minutes left, Germany was behind 3-1. However, Kai Havertz's goal gave the home team some hope, and in stoppage time, the Chelsea forward won a penalty that put Kimmich on the line.
Despite the comeback, a dominant Ukraine led for the majority of the game and will carry a lot of energy into this month's vital Euro 2024 qualifying matches against Malta and North Macedonia.
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Germany coach Hansi Flick stayed true to his pre-match promise to bring the "attacking power" this summer, selecting a back three, and allowing the offence-minded David Raum and Marius Wolf to roam the wings.
Early on, it appeared as though the script for the hosts was going according to plan. Antonio Ruediger's pressure compelled a hasty Mykhailo Mudryk to pass directly to an unmarked Niclas Fuellkrug barely meters from goal.
Fuellkrug quickly put the ball in the net by redirecting a Wolf shot into the net after the striker sent the ball just centimeters wide.
Ukraine scored twice in five minutes to turn the contest around after Germany made a second drive.
Ukraine latched onto a lazy pass from Julian Brandt, Viktor Tsyhankov's counter-attacking goal awarded on VAR review after being initially scratched off for offside.
The difference in the visitors' counterattack came from Mudryk, whose shot deflected in off a helpless Ruediger for an own goal.
Flick angered the home crowd by substituting Havertz for Bremen striker Fuellkrug at the halfway point, but Ukraine quickly increased their lead thanks to another error by Germany.
Viktor Tsygankov pounced on the rebound after Matthias Ginter mishandled a high back pass from Julian Brandt on the edge of the box to make it 3-1. The visitors removed the impressive Mudryk with the remaining games of the month in mind as the game appeared to be beyond their grasp.
Havertz, a forward for Chelsea, scored Germany's second goal shortly after, giving the home crowd hope for a comeback.
The forward won a penalty soon after, brought down in the box by Eduard Sobol, bringing captain Kimmich to the spot.
A year before hosting the 2024 European Championships, the Bayern Munich midfielder's penalty rebounded in off the post and spared Germany's face.
