Stuttgart's Mercedes-Benz Arena is the venue for Hansi Flick's first home international as Germany coach, and Armenia are the guests for another important World Cup qualifier (kick-off 6:45pm GMT).
Flick celebrated victory in his first game in charge of Germany since taking the reigns from Joachim Löw following this past summer's UEFA European Championships. Germany faced Liechtenstein in St. Gallen, Switzerland, on Thursday and came out 2-0 winners. Timo Werner and Bayern Munich's Leroy Sane got the goals in a dominant performance from the four-time world champions, who would have expected to have scored more goals on the night but were satisfied to leave with all three points. Thomas Müller is the only confirmed absentee after he left the squad to return to Munich following a minor injury, while captain Manuel Neuer was left out with a hamstring knock. Neuer, however, should be fit to start in Stuttgart, coming in for Bernd Leno who was between the sticks on Thursday. Jamal Musiala impressed once again as he assisted Germany's opener but with Bayern teammate Serge Gnabry waiting in the wings and Sane shining as well, Musiala looks set to take a place on the bench as Flick rotates his squad. Robin Gosens came off with a knock late on against Liechtenstein which could see him replaced by David Raum, who would make a full debut at left-back should he start.
This game is a meeting of the top two in Group J through four games of qualifying, and it's not Germany sat top of the pile. With three wins and a draw – 0-0 against North Macedonia on Thursday – Armenia are the only unbeaten side remaining in the group and they are led by Bundesliga royalty. Former Borussia Dortmund star Henrikh Mkhitaryan is their captain, with Hoffenheim's Sargis Adamyan also expected to lead the attack as a pair of familiar faces for the German defence. With six games still to play in qualifying, there are still 18 points up for grabs with Armenia sat one clear of Germany before this game.
- Flick becomes only the 11th Bundestrainer - head coach of the Germany national team – after spending eight years as assistant to Löw during his 15-year reign.
- Kimmich was Germany's captain for the second time in his career last time out against Liechtenstein, but first in a competitive fixture.
- By start in that game on Thursday, Jamal Musiala became the first 18-year-old to start for Germany in a competitive international fixture since Uwe Seeler in 1957.
- Florian Wirtz joined Musiala in making his senior debut for Germany aged 18.
- Germany last faced Armenia in a friendly just before their triumphant 2014 FIFA World Cup, winning 6-1 on the night. In two competitive meetings, Germany have come out 4-0 and 5-1 winners – both games taking place in 1997.
- Only the group winners qualify automatically for the World Cup, which takes place in Qatar between 21 November and 18 December, 2022. The runners-up enter a play-off for the six remaining qualifying berths for European nations.
Germany: Neuer (c) – Baku, Süle, Rüdiger, Raum – Kimmich, Gündogan – Gnabry, Havertz, Sane – Werner
Out: Müller (thigh)
Doubtful: Gosens (foot)
Coach: Hansi Flick
Armenia: Yurchenko – Hambardzumyan, Haroyan, Calisir, Hovhannisyan – Barseghyan, Udo, Grigoryan, Mkhitaryan (c) – Karapetyan, Adamyan
Out: –
Doubtful: –
Coach: Joaquin Caparros