Germany-Slovakia player ratings

Bernd Leno - 4

It is hard for any goalkeeper to perform when the defense in front of him is not doing its job. However, the form Leno showed at the end of Leverkusen's season was not on display on Sunday; he was bailed out of a few of his mistakes.

Joshua Kimmich - 5

His first-team debut was not all that exciting, but he did show how resourceful he can be in a tough environment. But Kimmich could probably have done more to move Löw to include him in the final 23-man roster.

Jerome Boateng - 3

The Boateng narrative that accompanied the game had a meaning beyond the boundaries of a football pitch, but the defender's national team return could have gone more smoothly. Boateng gave Marek Hamsik the space he needed to unleash a blast Leno could not save. He was also among those in the box as Germany conceded a pair from corners.

Antonio Rüdiger - 4

His national team performances have not been positive in 2016, but he did show improvement playing as a third center back. That said, leaving Michel Duris and Juraj Kucka unmarked does not reflect well on his chances for regular playing time at the Euros.

Sebastian Rudy - 7

Germany's defensive effort left a lot to be desired, but Rudy might just have provided hope at a fullback position still in flux. His tackle on Ondrej Duda and his goal-line clearance in the first half showed he can handle himself in the penalty area. He is no Philipp Lahm, but the Hoffenheim midfielder may have taken a huge step towards consideration for the right-back gig.

Mario Götze - 5

Götze had the main contribution in the game, winning the penalty that led to Germany's only goal, but the Bayern outcast's play was solid beyond that as well. He helped make the Germany attack very fluid, and his lack of touch on the ball at times was understandable given the weather conditions.

Sami Khedira - 6

With Toni Kroos celebrating his Champions League victory with Real Madrid, former teammate Khedira had to do a lot of the leg work in defensive midfield. He played his role in Löw's setup well and Germany's attack was better when he was in front of the defense.

Julian Draxler - 5

Germany did not have many memorable moments, but Draxler contributed a few that helped drive the World Cup champions forward. His quick combinations and well-timed runs revealed the game-changing player he can be, but his inconsistency on the ball still limits him to only a role player.

Jonas Hector - 4

Going forward, few international left backs possess Hector's talents. His defensive performance was once again underwhelming though, a trend that makes Löw's exclusion of Marcel Schmelzer more questionable.

Leroy Sane - 6

Sane was a player that was not thinking about a spot on the Olympic team, but rather trying to force Löw to include him in Germany's 23-man Euro 2016 squad. His runs were forceful as he constantly tried to test the Slovakian defense, but his final touch let him down at crucial moments.

Mario Gomez – 4

He is known for being a goal poacher, but there was little game to snare on Sunday. In his defense, Löw positioned him in a very strange way, having him act more like a strike partner with Leroy Sane rather than as a target man. He scored the only goal for Germany from the penalty spot, and that is all people are likely to remember about his performance.

Substitutes

Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 2

Julian Weigl – 5

Julian Brandt – 4

Benedikt Höwedes – 6

Andre Schürrle – 4