Guten abend and buonasera! Thank you for joining Sports Mole's text coverage of Germany's friendly encounter against Italy at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Quite simply, international football doesn't get much bigger than this. We have two of the biggest nations on show, so let's hope they live up to that billing.

Right then, without further ado, let's get the team news that is coming out of Bavaria.

TEAM NEWS

GERMANY: Ter Stegen; Mustafi, Hector, Rudy, Hummels; Ozil, Rudiger, Kroos, Gotze, Draxler; Muller

Still awaiting the Italy side

Let's start right at the back of that German team shall we? As expected, the classy Manuel Neuer has dropped out between the posts, which has handed an opportunity to Barcelona goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter-Stegen. This will be the 23-year-old's fifth cap since making his debut in 2012. It shows just how hard it is to dislodge Neuer!

© AFP

Also left out after the 3-2 defeat at home to England on Saturday evening are Emre Can, Marco Reus and Mario Gomez. That, in turn, has opened up space for Mario Gotze to start. That is likely to be of major interest to Liverpool fans, with their club said to be extremely keen on signing the playmaker. He has a good relationship with Jurgen Klopp, so don't rule it out.

There is still no confirmation from those pesky Italians regarding their starting lineup! Hopefully it shouldn't be too long now.

While you wait, here's a rather splendid shot of tonight's venue:

The #AllianzArena is ready for #GERITA! @esmuellert_ and @MarioGoetze are in the @DFB_Team_EN starting line-up. pic.twitter.com/9EARWyp24q — FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) March 29, 2016

That previous tweet from Bayern Munich mentioned that Thomas Muller starts tonight. He does indeed, but not only that, he captain his country for the first time. To date, the attacker has scored 31 goals in 69 outings for the Germans.

21 YEARS AND COUNTING! Believe it or not, Germany have not won this fixture since June 1995 - dating back 21 years. On that occasion, Thomas Helmer's first goal at international level and an own goal from Paolo Maldini did the damage. Since then, the Italians have won four times, with three draws tossed into the bargain. They last met in November 2013 in a match that ended 1-1. Mats Hummels, who starts for Germany tonight, scored in that game.

Team news ahoy!

ITALY: Buffon; Darmian, Bonucci, Acerbi; Florenzi, Thiago Motta, Montolivo, Giaccherini; Bernardeschi, Zaza, Insigne

And there are the 11 Italians that will start this encounter - better late than never! The headline news is that having scored against Spain as a substitute at the weekend, Napoli attacker Lorenzo Insigne is handed a starting role.

© Getty Images

As seems to be Antonio Conte's preference (take note Chelsea supporters), Italy are lining up in a 3-4-3 formation here. Manchester United's Matteo Darmian will help to form the back three, while veterans Thiago Motta and Riccardo Montolivo feature in midfield. Young attacker Federico Bernardeschi is also given a start following his impressive displays for the Under-21s.

CROCKED! One player that will not be facing the Italians tonight is Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger. He has a knee injury that is likely to rule him out for the rest of the season and potentially Euro 2016. Nevertheless, he's still posted a message of support to his teammates on Twitter:

Another tough test tonight against a strong opponent. Come on, @DFB_Team! 🇩🇪 #DieMannschaft #GERITA — Basti Schweinsteiger (@BSchweinsteiger) March 29, 2016

So, what are both of these sides preparing for at Euro 2016? World champions Germany have been placed in a group alongside Poland, Ukraine and Northern Ireland. It's one that you would expect Joachim Low's team to get through with minimal fuss. It does not look so straightforward for Italy, though, as they find themselves grouped with Belgium and Zlatan Ibrahimovic's Sweden. The group's other side - the Republic of Ireland - may also provide a tricky test.

Want to watch some German footballers warm up? Of course you do!

Warm-up time in the #AllianzArena! #GERITA #DieMannschaft 🇩🇪🇮🇹 https://t.co/cln0lGrrHv — Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) March 29, 2016

MEMORABLE MEETING! Who can forget the clash between these two sides in the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup. Fabio Grosso scored four goals for Italy, but none were more important than the one that broke the deadlock in extra-time. Watch the moment below, along with some great commentary!

Right, the players are now filtering into the tunnel area and they will soon be heading out for the anthems. If you haven't witnessed the Italian players belting out Il Canto degli Italiani before, you really should! It's fantastic!

Anthems are now well underway. As you would expect, Italy, and in particular experienced goalkeeper Buffon, were rather passionate. Not long now until we are off and running in Munich.

KICKOFF! Visiting Italy, who will attack from right to left as you look out from the tunnel during the first half, get this friendly started.

Not much has happened in terms of match action, but one thing of note is that Germany are playing with three at the back and then five in midfield. Low has rarely done that during his time in charge, so it will be interesting to see how that develops.

It has been a very sloppy opening eight minutes from both teams here in Munich. Too many passes have been going astray and the control of some of the players has been poor. It's no surprise that the crowd is a little flat.

That's better from Germany and it's Arsenal playmaker Ozil that is the ringleader. He launches a counter-attack from the halfway line, before playing the ball out wide to the right for Rudy. The wing-back in turn rolls the ball back into Ozil's path, but just as he's about to pull the trigger, Darmian intercepts with a well-timed challenge.

SAVE! It's an easy stop for Buffon in the end, but it's more good play from Germany. Muller picks out Hector wide on the left and having cut inside, he unleashes a shot goalwards. Buffon is right behind it, though, and holds at the second attempt.

BOOKING! This may only be a friendly, but it's a clear booking for Italy's Giaccherini. He hacks down Rudy as the German wing-back looked to advance towards the Italian penalty area.

Bar a head injury to Rudiger, which he has recovered from, very little has happened in the last few minutes. Both sides are cancelling each other out.

Boy, did this game need a goal! Kroos is the man to supply it and what a finish from the Germany midfielder. Bonucci can only clear Muller's low cross as far as the edge of the box. Kroos is waiting to pounce and he duly passes the ball into the bottom corner of Buffon's net. What a great goal from the Real Madrid man. It is his 11th at senior international level.

SAVE! The home side are in complete control right now. Muller spins 30 yards from goal, advances forward and then sends a curling effort towards goal. It worries Buffon enough to backtrack and tip the ball over the crossbar.

Muller is again involved, this time in a counter-attack which is eventually worked wide to Hector. His drilled cross is a teasing one that flies across the face of the Italy goal, but no German has gambled to tap the ball in.

SAVE! Lovely stuff from Germany, who have certainly found their rhythm after a slow start. A searching pass from Ozil is flicked on first time by Gotze. It sends Draxler scampering away, but his low shot is comfortably held by a diving Buffon.

STAT!

2 - Toni Kroos scores for the 1st time in 2 consecutive internationals for Germany (both times for 1-0). In-form. — OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) March 29, 2016

It's simply not happening at all for Italy. They are working the ball to around 25 or 30 yards of the Germany goal and then the move breaks down. Too many wasteful passes and bad decisions being made at present.

And with that, it could well be game over. Muller is again the creator with a delightful cross towards the back post. Gotze is by no means the tallest footballer you'll ever see, but he wins a battle with both Darmian and Florenzi to head the ball across Buffon and into the bottom corner of the net. A good goal from Germany's point of view, but Conte is bound to be fuming.

There goes the whistle for the interval and it will be music to the ears of the Italy players. They have been poor tonight, while Germany improved as the half went on.

As mentioned, Germany started slowly, but they looked a real dangerous outfit as the half came to a close. Ozil and Muller are pulling the strings, while the two wing-backs are posing a real threat down either flank. This is just the tonic that Germany needed after that England loss. But, remember, they were also 2-0 up in that game!

Italy, meanwhile, will want to forget that first 45 minutes as quickly as possible. They offered very little as an attacking threat and defensively have looked suspect. All in all it has been a very un-Italian-like showing from Conte's men. No doubt he is letting them know that right now.

RESTART! Germany, who lead 2-0, get proceedings back underway in Munich.

CHANCE! What a chance for Montolivo to pull one back for Italy. Zaza drifts the ball into his path and having taken a decent first touch, an opportunity opens up for Montolivo. However, he can only poke wide from eight yards out. A big waste.

It's been a better showing from Italy in this second half - in truth, it couldn't have been much worse! They are passing the ball around better and are making the odd inroad in the final third.

BOOKING! It's one apiece on the cautions count as the lively Bernardeschi is taken down by Germany centre-back Hummels.

I mentioned that Italy have begun the second half brightly, but it counts for nothing now as Germany go 3-0 up. Hector is the scorer, but it's all about Draxler, who beats three defenders and then exchanges passes with Gotze. He could shoot, but instead he unselfishly squares the ball for Hector, who rolls into the bottom corner. A great team goal from the world champions.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Changes for both sides as Gotze is replaced by Reus, while worryingly for Italy, Bonucci has been stretchered off with a knee injury. Ranocchia enters the action in his place.

CHANCE! An opening for Italy as Motta picks out Zaza with a lofted pass. The angle is against the striker but he goes for goal any way. Yet, he only succeeds in lashing wildly over. Soon after, Conte rings the changes - four in total - with El Shaarawy among those coming on.

GERMANY SUB: Captain for the night Muller comes off to a big applause from the home fans. Can has come on in his place, while the armband is passed to Hummels.

You will not see a clearer penalty than that! A great ball from Kroos picks out Rudy, who is through on goal. The wing-back looks to round Buffon, but just as he does, the veteran goalkeeper blatantly brings him down. Up steps Ozil, who calmly fires in from 12 yards. This has turned into a hammering!

BOOKING! A second caution for the Germans as Mustafi gets his name taken down for a foul on El Shaarawy.

Where did that come from? Italy appeared to be finished, but they have at least bagged what looked like an unlikely consolation. There's plenty of luck involved because El Shaarawy's shot from the edge of the box is flying straight at Ter Stegen, but it takes a deflection off Rudy, leaving the Germany goalkeeper helpless.

GERMANY SUBS: A couple of changes for Germany as Volland and Ginter replace Draxler and Hector.

GERMANY SUB: Final switch from Germany as the impressive Kroos has his place taken by Kramer.

We will have three minutes of stoppage time at the end of this contest - if you can call it that!

Well, that was rather emphatic. From the moment that Kroos superbly put Germany in front, there was only ever going to be one winner in Munich. The hosts were impressive, but it was a worrying display from the visitors with Euro 2016 not that far away.

That is all we have time for from the Allianz Arena. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this evening and until next time, goodbye.