Good evening! One of the pre-tournament favorites, Germany, will be getting their campaign underway in around half an hour against Serbia. Let's start with a look at the team news...

GERMANY STARTING XI: Ter Stegen, Korb, Gunter, Ginter, Knoche, Leitner, Can, Younes, Meyer, Volland, Hofmann

SERBIA STARTING XI: Dmitrovic, Pantic, Petrovic, Spajic, Stojkovic, Causic, Djuricic, Brasanas, Jolic, Pesis, Srnic

There are plenty of familiar names in the Germany lineup, including Barcelona's Champions League winning goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and Liverpool defensive midfielder Emre Can. Philipp Hoffman leads the attack, while Kevin Volland wears the captain's armband.

For Serbia, senior internationals Filip Djurici and Milos Jocic are included in the starting lineup, but stars like Matija Nastasic, Lazar Markovic and Aleksandar Mitrovic, who are all eligible for this tournament, miss the tournament.

The other two sides in this group have already been in action a little earlier. Denmark had to come from behind to beat the Czech Republic, so currently sit at the top of Group A as a result of their 2-1 victory.

Ahead of this match, Germany coach Horst Hrubesch told reporters: "It's always good to start with victory at any tournament as it makes life a lot easier. However, we will take it step by step, one game at a time. Every team in this tournament have the ability to win it and are therefore playing for the title. Just look at how Serbia beat the reigning champions Spain in the play-offs. Denmark, too, are a very compact and difficult team to face, sometimes they might be underestimated."

Meanwhile, Serbia coach Mladen Dodic said at his pre-match press conference: "We've been very positive and we've concentrated on things we can influence. Some things happen and we have to accept them, for example, some players eligible for this team are not available. However, I remind you that lots of these players eliminated Spain in the playoffs. I believe that we will be ready to qualify for the semi-finals. I'm optimistic because this group of players proved to me in qualifying that they can do whatever they want, as long as they are ready and motivated. We showed a lot of good things in qualifying. We also showed our mentality and our character, bouncing back from defeats. That is who we are at the moment, but my opinion is that we are at our best when we play against the strongest opponents. Everyone says Germany are tournament favourites, so this is why I am optimistic."

As Dodic mentioned in his press conference, Serbia knocked Spain out in order to qualify for this tournament, having finished as runners-up in their qualifying group with six wins from 10 matches. Germany were unbeaten in their qualifying campaign, winning their group before beating Ukraine in a playoff.

These two sides have previously met on the opening day of an Under-21s tournament, having clashed in Portugal in 2007. On that occasion, it was Germany who claimed a 1-0 win in Barcelos.

The players are starting to make their way out ready for kickoff at the Letna Stadium. It's far from a sellout at the 6,375 capacity ground though, but the players receive a warm welcome nonetheless. The anthems of both countries will be played before kickoff.

PREDICTION! While the pre-match formalities take place, there's just time for a quick prediction. Germany obviously start as favourites, and it's difficult to see a Serbia side that are missing some of their best players this tournament causing an upset. Serbia won't make it easy for Germany, but I think Hrubesch's side should be able to came away with a 2-0 win.

KICKOFF! Serbia get the action underway.

There are no real chances of note in the opening couple of minutes, but Serbia have certainly made an impact with their physicality as Slavljub Srnic is penalised for a late challenge on Leitner. Serbia are looking to get on the offensive though, but Germany seem more than capable so far.

It's certainly been a cagey start to the match, with neither side yet to create anything to trouble the goalkeeper. Korb and Gunter keep the ball at the back before Younes manages to get to the edge of the Serbia box, but there's too much on his flick on into the path of Gunter.

Well that's not in the script! The favourites leave themselves wide open at the back, allowing Southampton loanee Filip Djuricic to pick up the ball in midfield, and he used his space to quickly shake off Robin Knoche, before slotting the ball with ease into the bottom corner. What a start for Serbia!

Serbia are on the attack again! They know that they're going to come under pressure sooner or later, so are obviously trying to make the most of the openings while they're coming. Pesic charges forward with Srnic in the middle, but Amin Younes forces him to put it behind for a goalkick.

The pace on Serbia's counter-attacking is just too much for Germany at the moment as Stojkovic races down the right flank before seeing his cross put behind for a corner. Petrovic delivers it in low, but there's no-one there to meet it.

Germany are just trying to keep the ball at the back to halt Serbia's charge, but they lose patience when Younes finds himself in space on the left, handing the ball back to Serbia moments later with a wayward ball into the box. It really is a surprise to see Germany struggling just to keep possession at the moment, but Serbia have been brilliant since taking the lead.

It takes just a moment of brilliant from Emre Can to get Germany back on level terms. Volland pulls the ball back to the Liverpool man on the edge of the box. A quick change of direction wrong-footed Darko Brasanac, leaving the midfielder to sweep the ball into the bottom left.

Germany look more confident as they try to play their way out from the back again, with Korb playing the ball through to Can, but Srnic quickly trips the goalscorer, conceding a free kick.

Germany pass the ball around with impressive ease as Mayer, Korb and Volland are all involved before the latter crosses it in for Can. He curls it forward for Hoffmann, but Dmitrovic is off his line to punch it away. It's taken a little longer than expected, but Germany are starting to look like the tournament favourites now. Serbia have proved they will make the most of their chances though, so Germany can't become complacent.

Serbia get the ball back down the other end as Djuricic plays a well-placed pass across the pitch for Srnic, who flicks it on for Jolic, but there's a touch too much on the ball, and it goes out of play. It's a timely reminder that Serbia can still threaten.

CHANCE! Knoche is caught out by a sudden turn of pace for the second time as Jolic puts the ball in for Pesic are losing the defender, but his finishing touch is wide of the post.

Germany force a corner after another patient move forward, which Leitner gets a shot away from, but Spajic is in the right place at the right time to make the block.

It's another corner for the Germans, which Meyer whips in, but Younes's looping strike ends up going both high and wide. Germany quickly win the ball back and come again, but Vollan is offside in the buildup.

Germany looked like they were going to start dictating the action after getting back on level terms, but it just hasn't happened. Part of that is because Serbia upped the intensity again, but Germany just don't seem to have the same urgency about them now that they're not chasing the game.

Stojkovic is on the charge down the right, and manages to force the ball behind for a Serbia corner, which Milos Jojic curls in, but Ginter is ready to quickly clear the danger for Germany.

CHANCE! For the first time in a little while, Germany have the ball inside the Serbia penalty area, as Can chips the ball into the path of the onrushing Leitner, but his finish lacks power, leaving Dmitrovic to quickly gather.

BOOKING! The referee warned the players a few minutes ago that he wanted the players to calm down, and Moritz Leitner finally pushes him too far, picking up the first booking of the night for a foul on Srnic.

OFF THE BAR! Causic has just unleashed an unbelievable strike from around 40 yards out, which forced an equally impressive save from Ter Stegen to keep it out. The midfielder has the ball from the free kick, and tries just luck from distance. The thunderbolt strike swerves wickedly, but the keeper just gets his fingertips to it to direct it onto the crossbar, before it lands on the line and rolls away from the goal. Causic pleads with the referee, claiming that it crossed the line, but the Barcelona stopper did just enough. Had that gone in, that would surely have been the goal of the tournament, even though it is only the second match!

CHANCE! Germany have a free kick down the other end after Can was fouled, but Leitner's dipping finish doesn't worry the Serbia keeper.

At the interval, it's all square between Germany and Serbia as Emre Can's goal cancelled out an early effort from Filip Djuricic. Germany could have taken the lead, but were lucky not to fall behind again just before the break following that wonderstrike from Goran Causic. It's all to play for in the second half.

Germany had 57% of the possession in the opening 45 minutes, and six shots to Serbia's three. Both sides had two efforts on target though, resulting in one goal each. Serbia have given away more fouls, with eight to Germany's five, but the pre-tournament favourites picked up the only yellow card.

The players are obviously keen to get things back underway as soon as possible, as they've out early ready for the start of the second half.

RESTART! Germany get the action back underway.

SUB! Germany have made a half-time change, replacing the booked Moritz Leitner with Joshua Kimmich.

CHANCE! Emre Can looks keen to add to his first-half goal as he unleashes a powerful drive from just outside the box, but Pantic is in the right place at the right time to make the block.

CHANCE! Germany may very well have had a bit of a talking to in the interval as Volland finds himself in space in the box, but he takes a touch too much and loses out to Petrovic.

BOOKING! Christian Gunter is shown the yellow card for bundling Pantic down as he tried to launch a counter-attack.

BOOKING! It's been a rather physical start to the second half as Goran Causic is also in the book for catching Philipp Hoffmann in the face with a flailing arm, which leaves the German striker with blood coming out of his mouth.

BOOKING! And it's another yellow for Serbia as Darko Brasanac takes out Kimmich with a late challenge. That's three players on the pitch now that will have to behave themselves for the rest of the match.

Germany have certainly looked the more likely since the restart, but barring a couple of chances in the opening moments of the period, there hasn't been too much to trouble the Serbia defence.

CHANCE! Milos Jojic creates an opening from nowhere, sprinting from midfield before using his excellent footwork skills to cut inside and fire a curling finish towards the Germany goal, but it'a at a nice height for Ter Stegen to deal with.

CHANCE! Germany are soon applying the pressure down the other end as Volland sets up Hoffmann for a header with a ball in from the left, but the striker doesn't get a clean connection with the ball, brushing it wide.

Serbia certainly aren't playing for the draw as Jojic picks out Sojkovic, who crosses it in, forcing Knoche to turn it behind for the corner. Ter Stegen is caught in no-man's land as the ball comes in, but a foul by Pantic rescues to German keeper.

Brasanac has to time his tackle to perfectly as he takes the ball away from Volland inside the penalty area, but he gets it right and forces the ball behind for a corner, which Serbia swiftly clear.

RED CARD! Christian Gunter takes a tumble under an apparent challenge from Brasanac. Both players have already been booked, and the referee judges it to be a dive, so he dismisses the Germany man, who is left open-mouthed as he sees the red card shown to him rather than the Serbia defender.

So this is going to be an interesting final 20 minutes. Germany have looked the more likely since the restart, but Serbia have still shown plenty of intent. Serbia have been happy to wait for chances to come to them, but now they're playing again 10 men, they may be willing to chase the game instead.

SUB! Wary of being caught out by the numerically superior Serbia, Germany take off Philipp Hoffmann to send on the more defensively-minded Nico Schulz

Serbia are starting to play a lot higher up the pitch as they clearly want to push for a winner. Causic and Djuricic thread the ball around the middle, while Filip Stojkovic tries to find a gap down the right, but Germany have switched to a defensive setup, and have numbers back to slow the Serbia charge.

BOOKING! The challenges are still playing in, with Aleksandar Pantic seeing the yellow for taking Volland down.

SUBS! Both sides make a change as Maximilian Meyer heads off for Leonardo Bittencourt, while Serbia take off Slavoljub Srnic for Aleksandar Cavric, giving them some fresh legs up front.

Despite being a man short, Germany make a sudden move forward, led by Can, who passes out wide for Volland. He tries to cross it back in to Can, but Stojkovic gets to it first, hacking it away.

PENALTY APPEAL! Germany aren't sitting back and settling for the draw, and they think they should have a spot kick as Younes is floored in the box by Stojkovic, but the referee says it was a fair challenge. Stojkovic has really make some key plays at the back to limit Germany's chances this evening, including this one.

Serbia tried to push on once Germany were reduced to 10, but they haven't really made the most of it. Their game plan seems to have been to defend well, use their pace and looks for openings on the counter, but now that they're expected to be in control, they seem a little unsure of themselves.

CHANCE! Serbia have a free kick inside Germany's half, which Jojic whips into the box, but Ter Stegen is ready to claim it. That allows Germany to exploit the space at the back on the counter-attack, with Bittencourt squaring the ball in for Vollan, but Stojkovic is there again to make the block.

Serbia have a corner as they continue to push for a late winner. Jojic takes it, but it's easily cleared by the German side. Younes tries to break on the counter, but lacks support and can't get his shot through.

SUB! Serbia send on Nikola Stoilkovic in place of Milos Jojic for the three minutes of stoppage time.

SUB! Serbia seem to be just winding down the clock now as Luka Miluovic replaces Aleksandar Pesic.

So it's honours even at the full-time whistle, with Emre Can's equaliser cancelling out an early strike from Filip Djuricic. Both sides had chances to win it, and both sides made enough mistakes to lose it, but over the course of 90 minutes, a draw is probably about right.

The draw certainly keep things open in Group A. The Denmark sitting at the top of the standings following their win over the Czech Republic earlier, while Germany and Serbia are joint second.

While Germany survived with 10 men tonight, they'll have to cope without the influential Christian Gunter for more than the final 20 minutes next time out, as a red card carried an automatic suspension, so he'll miss the clash with Denmark.

Well, that's all from this match, but join us again tomorrow as the team's in Group B begin their campaign, with Italy taking on Sweden and Gareth Southgate's Young Lions up against Portugal. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.