'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Dusseldorf witnessed an enthralling international friendly between two of the topmost contenders to lift this year's World Cup. Germany and Spain faced off and at the end, there was not much to separate the two sides as the final score on the night was 1-1 and honours were equally shared.
Valencia's Rodrigo opened the scoring for Spain after putting through on goal by Andres Iniesta. Germany replied in fine fashion with Thomas Müller hitting one into the top corner from outside the box. So, without further delay, let's take a look at how each player fared in this matchup of the biggest superstars in world football:
Spain
David De Gea: 7/10
De Gea looked a bit shaky at the start but grew as the game went on. He made two stunning stops in the second half which ensured Spain remained in the game until the final whistle.
Dani Carvajal: 5/10
Carvajal made some sloppy passes on the night and also looked out of sorts against Draxler and Hector. It was a not good outing for the Real Madrid man.
Gerard Pique: 6/10
He was taken off due to an injury around the 50th minute and might cause a few worries for FC Barcelona. Until his departure, Pique looked at ease alongside Ramos.
Sergio Ramos: 8/10
Ramos was the best defender on the night. Be it winning the physical and aerial duels or keeping track of Timo Werner's runs, Ramos managed it all brilliantly.
Jordi Alba: 5/10
Both Spanish fullbacks were poor against the Germans as Alba looked a bit lost when in possession. He took a shot when he should have passed and passed when he should have taken a shot.
Thiago Alcantara: 7/10
In Sergio Busquets' absence, the onus was on Thiago to set the tempo for Spain. He managed that brilliantly and also helped in quick transitions with some neat passing.
Andres Iniesta: 9/10
The man's still got it! Iniesta delivered a wonderful assist to Rodrigo for the opening goal, taking the German defence out of the equation with one slide rule pass. His link-up play was sensational and he delivered a vintage performance.
Koke: 6/10
The Atletico Madrid man had to do the dirty work on the night. His work rate caught the eye along with his ability to drive his team in forward in counter-attacks.
David Silva: 6/10
Silva displayed some neat close control and found a brilliant rhythm with his teammates in passing around the final third. But the desired final ball was missing from his performance.
Isco: 7/10
The midfielder found spaces aplenty to create chances and was at his influential best. But he was guilty at times of holding on to the ball and not recycling it quickly.
Rodrigo: 7/10
He proved the manager's decision right to start him as the Valencia man worked his socks off against Germany. He pressed high and scored his chance with ease.
Substitutions
Saul Niguez: 6/10
Saul managed to keep the midfield compact when Germany had a larger share of possession but could not help out in attack as much as he would have hoped for.
Nacho Fernandez: 6/10
Replacing Pique and playing alongside Ramos, Nacho had very little to do and managed to not concede a goal in his presence.
Marco Asensio: 7/10
Asensio looked threatening every time he got on the ball and made his case even stronger of being a regular starter for club and country.
Diego Costa: 4/10
Costa is lacking the cutting edge he once had and it showed once again as he squandered a brilliant chance to give Spain the lead.
Lucas Vazquez: 5/10
The winger played the final quarter of the game but could not find an opening to make a contribution.
Rodrigo Hernandez: N/A
Rodrigo hardly had any chance to make his mark on the game.
Germany
Marc Andre Ter-Stegen: 6/10
Ter Stegen could not have done anything for Spain's goal as it was perfectly placed. He looked sloppy with his distribution but made a fine block to deny Isco a goal in the second half.
Joshua Kimmich: 5/10
Kimmich got forward at will and put in some delightful crosses into the box. But he was out of position while defending which led Spain to use that space to their advantage.
Jerome Boateng: 8/10
Boateng looked assured on the night and did not put a foot wrong. It was his last-ditch block that stopped Costa from scoring the winner.
Mats Hummels: 4/10
The only positive for Hummels was his stunning long balls. Other than that, the Bayern man fared miserably. He was caught napping for Spain's goal and lost his man on numerous occasions. Hummels also squandered an open header, crashing it onto the crossbar.
Jonas Hector: 5/10
Hector was sloppy with his passing and gave away possession in critical areas. He hit one sweetly from 25 yards but could not do his primary job well on the night.
Sami Khedira: 5/10
Captain on the night, Khedira was one dimensional with his passing but laid the assist for Müller. He suffered a knock in the second half and had to be taken off for precaution.
Toni Kroos: 8/10
Kroos was the midfield engine that kept Germany going. His passing was top notch and so were his set-piece deliveries.
Julian Draxler: 7/10
Draxler could not do much in the first half but almost scored in the second, only for his shot to be expertly saved by De Gea. He linked well with Hector on the left flank and gave Carvajal a torrid time.
Mesut Özil: 5/10
The playmaker was not up for the big game and looked off the pace. In a battle of two playmakers, he came out second to Isco and could not assert himself in the game.
Thomas Müller: 8/10
The raumdeuter scored a stunning goal, giving De Gea absolutely no chance of saving a shot that was curling away from him. Müller took up great positions and brought his teammates into play effectively.
Timo Werner: 7/10
Werner ran between the channels and troubled the Spanish backline to great lengths. But it was his finishing that let him down. If he had found his scoring boots on the night, Germany would have left the field as the victors.
Substitutions
Ilkay Gundogan: 6/10
Gundogan could not create much but took one brilliant shot which was saved by the fingertips of De Gea.
Leroy Sane: 6/10
Replacing Draxler, Sane brought some urgency into Germany's play on the left wing but the Manchester City forward lacked the final telling pass.
Leon Goretzka: 5/10
Apart from a few sideways passes, Goretzka didn't do much in his short cameo.
Mario Gomez: N/A
Gomez did not do anything worth mentioning.
