There is a good time to score your first international goal. And then there is Pascal Gross netting a last minute winner for Germany to open his international account in their final warmup match before hosting Euro 2024.
The scores were locked at 1-1 as the game in Monchengladbach ticked into the 89th minute. A draw seemed the most likely outcome thanks to a combination of a gritty Greek performance and a lacklustre showing from Germany.
But then the ball fell to Gross some 25 yards out when a Kai Havertz cross was only half-cleared. Brighton fans are only too aware of the unerring accuracy with which Der Kaiser usually finishes. It is a talent less familiar in the Fatherland.
Pascal Gross still remains something of an unknown to plenty of football fans in Germany on account of the most successful seven years of his career coming for the Albion.
Those who do not follow the Premier League would have little reason to know who plays for Little Old Brighton, in the same way most football fans in England would not be aware of Reece Oxford at Augsburg.
A lot more people back in Germany will know about Gross and his abilities now though. Gross caught the bouncing ball as sweetly as you like, sending a rocket of a volley into the top corner giving Greece substitute goalkeeper Georgios Athanasiadis. Try spelling that the morning after a few beers.
Gross celebrated with his trademark knee slide and by kissing the badge. Der Kaiser is clearly loving playing for his country; which may cause problems for Brighton if a Bundesliga club comes in for his services this summer.
Eintracht Frankfurt are said to be interested. Others undoubtedly will be too if he has a strong Euros in a relatively successful German side.
Gross has made no secret of his desire to return home at some point to finish his career. And given everything he has done for Brighton since 2017, the club will surely not stand in his way should an offer come in and Gross decide it is the time to head back to Germany.
Maybe the appointment of a German head coach like Fabian Hurzeler can convince Gross to play out one more year at the Amex?
Havertz was the other German scorer against Greece, cancelling out an opening goal from Giorgos Masouras which came from a Manuel Neuer error.
Neuer made a world class double save to deny Christos Tzolis as Germany struggled through the first half. The hosts were improved after the break with Gross entering proceedings for Ilkay Gundogan on 68 minutes.
In their Germany 2-1 Greece player ratings, Vavel scored Gross a seven. It was the second-highest rating, bettered only by Champions League winner Toni Kroos with an eight.
Whether it is enough for Gross to have forced himself into the German XI for the tournament opener against Scotland in Munich on Friday remains to be seen.
If Gross does start at the Allianz Arena, he is likely to be up against Billy Gilmour. Steve Clarke named what his expected to be his starting line up in Germany for Scotland’s final warm up game against Finland, including Gilmour in midfield.
The Tartan Army were leading 2-0 when Gilmour was substituted on 68 minutes. Without Gilmour on the pitch, they conceded twice to sign off ahead of the Euros with only a draw.
This was still a better result than England managed. Summer expectations amongst Three Lions fans were dampened as a disappointing night at Wembley ended in a 1-0 defeat to Iceland.
Lewis Dunk missed the game with injury. The problem is not severe enough to have kept him out of Gareth Southgate’s squad, but it may have damaged his chances of starting against Serbia next Sunday.
Which might be no bad thing given Dunk’s questionable record whenever he has faced Aleksandar Mitrovic in the past.
As for the two other Brighton players heading to Euro 2024, Jakub Moder came on after an hour for Poland in their 3-1 win over Ukraine. All the scoring had already been done by the time Moder entered proceedings.
Bart Verbruggen meanwhile kept a routine clean sheet on Thursday night as the Netherlands eased past Canada 4-0. Dutch boss Ronald Koeman has already confirmed Verbruggen will go into the tournament as number one.
