Germany draw 3-3 thriller with Switzerland, Kane fit for Denmark game
CGTN
Players of Germany and Switzerland in action during the UEFA Nations League group stage match in Cologne, Germany, October 13, 2020. /CFP

Players of Germany and Switzerland in action during the UEFA Nations League group stage match in Cologne, Germany, October 13, 2020. /CFP

Germany twice had to come from behind to earn a rollercoaster 3-3 draw against visitors Switzerland in an exciting Nations League group game packed with incident in Cologne, Germany on Tuesday.

The Swiss took an early lead through Mario Gavranovic and Remo Freuler added a second before goals from Timo Werner and Kai Havertz leveled the scores. Gavranovic then grabbed his second only for Serge Gnabry to earn Germany a point.

The result moves Germany within a point of League A Group Four leaders Spain, who remain on seven points after losing 1-0 away to a Ukraine side now on six points, while the Swiss, still without a win, stay bottom with two points.

Germany coach Joachim Loew reverted to a four-man defense for the game in an empty stadium, after they had led in the last four games only to concede equalizers in three of them.

But it remained their weak spot on Tuesday as they struggled with quick breaks from the Swiss who found far too much space.

"It was extremely intense. We started badly but showed great attitude in coming back," Loew said. "That was positive. In defense we made our share of mistakes which we have to stop. But we showed that the team is ready to fight."

The Swiss had stunned Germany with Gavranovic's fifth minute header and doubled the lead in the 26th when they intercepted a pass from Toni Kroos, playing in his 100th international, and Freuler beat goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with a cool chip.

Werner hit back for the hosts two minutes later, wrong-footing keeper Yann Sommer with a clever low shot, as the Germans maintained possession and kept pushing forward.

Robin Gosens' effort was tipped over the bar by Sommer late in the first half but the keeper was beaten when Havertz charged into the box and fired in the equalizer in the 55th.

But Germany's backline kept leaking goals as the Swiss went back in front in the 57th. Neuer made consecutive saves from Haris Seferovic but Gavranovic drilled in on the rebound.

A sensational Gnabry back heel flick on the hour pulled the home side level once more and rescued a point for Loew's team.

England's Harry Kane during the UEFA Nations League group stage match against Belgium in London, UK, October 11, 2020. /CFP

England's Harry Kane during the UEFA Nations League group stage match against Belgium in London, UK, October 11, 2020. /CFP

Elsewhere, England striker Harry Kane is fit to start Wednesday's Nations League match against Denmark but defenders Ben Chilwell and Kieran Trippier have withdrawn from the squad, manager Gareth Southgate said on Tuesday.

Kane did not start Sunday's 2-1 win over Belgium and only came on as a substitute but Southgate said he was "fully fit" even as Tottenham Hotspur urged England to exercise caution over the striker's workload amid a congested schedule.

England are top of Nations League Group A2 with seven points after three games, one point ahead of second-placed Belgium.

(With input from agencies)