World Cup hosts Germany will continue their preparations for next summer’s finals with a friendly against Italy at the Stadio Artemio Franchi in Florence on 1 March.

The teams last met two and a half years ago in Stuttgart with Italy prevailing 1-0 courtesy of a first-half goal from Christian Vieri.

“This will be exactly the kind of test we need,” Germany’s assistant coach Joachim Low said of the match against Italy.

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