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GERMANY

Fireworks promised for Spain–Germany friendly

Spain boss Vicente del Bosque has demanded his players put on a show as his rejuvenated side prepare to welcome Germany, the team that succeeded them as world champions, in Vigo on Tuesday.

Fireworks promised for Spain–Germany friendly
Spanish manager Vicente Del Bosque has injected plenty of new blood into his side, the reigning European champions. Photo: AFP

"When you get this kind of match there's almost no difference whether the game is an official one or like in this case a friendly," said Del Bosque, whose side go into the game on a high having rediscovered their form.

"We want to play well, to put on a show," he said.

"They (Germany) want to remain at the highest level, and we want to keep up our post World Cup momentum," said Del Bosque, after Saturday's 3-0 European qualifier win against Belarus.

Germany coach Joachim Loew looked to be taking the game less seriously than Del Bosque.

"We're delighted to be taking on a team of such a high technical level. It's the perfect test for us," Loew said in Vigo, where the teams are due to play.

"But if we lose I won't consider it a defeat that would compromise our chances for next year (of winning Euro 2016). It's not so important," said Loew.

The World Cup winning coach also suggested he would give a run out to fringe strikers Kevin Volland of Hoffenheim and Stuttgart's Antonio Ruediger.

Loew has recently complained that Germany is suffering a post World Cup hangover, and that a fresh start is needed in the New Year.

"After this match, we need a good break and a long holiday so everyone can recharge our batteries," he said.

Spain captain 'keeper Iker Casillas said the teams needed to live up to their reputations.

"Tomorrow (Tuesday) the last two World Cup winners go head-to-head so you really can't get a more attractive game than that," explained the Real Madrid stopper.

Spain romped to the 2010 World title in South Africa but fell to a dramatic first-round elimination at the 2014 edition in Brazil, won so impressively by Germany.

Del Bosque has injected plenty of new blood into his side, the reigning European champions, with players such as Real Madrid midfielder Isco, Juventus striker Alvaro Moratta or winger Jose Callejon.

"Against the Germans, we'll be giving a run out to everyone we can," said Del Bosque.

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GERMANY

Germany cracks down on fake Covid vaccine documents

German police have set up a special team to fight a growing number of forged vaccine certificates being sold in the black market

Germany cracks down on fake Covid vaccine documents
People who are fully vaccinated can show their vaccination booklet, which has a stamp and a sticker inside. Photo: Ina FASSBENDER / AFP

Police in Cologne have warned of a group of fraudsters selling fake vaccination certificates, a growing problem the scale of which is still unclear.

The police said the fraudsters worked in encrypted Telegram chats, making investigations difficult, and were selling fake documents with all the stamps and signatures, including a mark about vaccination with BioNTech or AstraZeneca.

READ ALSO: Germany probes Covid-19 testing centres for fraud

The fraud involved both real traffic in fake documents as well as scams luring customers into paying €100.

People in Germany who are fully vaccinated can show their vaccination booklet, which has a stamp and a sticker inside. Those who don’t have a booklet get a piece of paper.

Covid health passes are currently being rolled out across the EU, with a European health passport expected to be available from mid-June.

READ ALSO: What’s the latest on how the EU’s ‘Covid passports’ will work for travellers?

Over 44% of the adult population in Germany has received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, and more than 18% of Germans have been fully vaccinated.

German police have said forged coronavirus vaccine documents are becoming an increasing problem.

Last month, a couple in Baden-Württemberg was accused of selling fake coronavirus vaccination certificates.

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