The headline team news for this friendly fixture was the return of Germany striker Kai Havertz, who led the visitors’ attack on his first international appearance since November 2024.
The Arsenal forward had the game’s first big opportunity following some neat build-up play in the 13th minute, but he side-footed his shot straight at Gregor Kobel. Germany made all the early running, only to fall behind four minutes after that attempt, as Granit Xhaka pinched the ball in midfield and switched it to Dan Ndoye, who raced into the box to fire in off the near post.
That ended a run of four successive clean sheets for Julian Nagelsmann’s side, but they hit back eight minutes later when centre-back Jonathan Tah scored his first Germany goal - on his 44th appearance - with a far-post header from Wirtz’s teasing cross.
The third goal of this hugely entertaining contest arrived four minutes before half-time, when Breel Embolo met Silvan Widmer’s cross with a diving header from close range that gave Oliver Baumann no chance.
Baumann was beaten again shortly after, but this time luck was on his side, as Fabian Rieder’s curling effort from the edge of the box came back off the crossbar. There was still time for the visitors to equalise again before the interval, as Wirtz sent a pinpoint through ball into the path of Serge Gnabry, who dinked his 26th Germany goal past Kobel with the final touch of a breathless half.
A quadruple change by Switzerland boss Murat Yakin at half-time disrupted his side’s rhythm, and Kobel was forced to tip Wirtz’s dipping strike around the post as Germany continued to probe.
So, it was no surprise when they took the lead on the hour mark when the Liverpool playmaker took possession on the left corner of the box and whipped in a brilliant strike. That goal was hard to top, but Switzerland substitute Monteiro took that challenge personally 11 minutes from time, as he unleashed a terrific shot into the top corner from 20 yards for just his second international goal.
Wirtz simply had to have the final say, though, and his beautiful curling strike seven minutes later left Kobel motionless, taking his tally to nine international goals. Germany will hope the 22-year-old can take that form into the FIFA World Cup this summer, while Switzerland must pick themselves up after seeing their 10-match unbeaten run - and 12-match unbeaten streak at St. Jakob-Park - end in dramatic fashion.