Italian PM Giuseppe Conte bemoaned the 'rashness' of local politicians who opened up bars and pizzerias at a 'delicate stage' of the coronavirus crisis, four days before the lockdown is due to end.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW BY MATT BARLOW: Rabbi Matondo was among the wave of fearless young British footballers who set out to forge their futures in Germany.

Germany will have to wait a bit longer for sport to return to the country, as the government has not given approval for a planned racing meeting on Monday in Dortmund.

Ahead of the historic day, colourised archived images of the Allied liberation of Germany from the Nazis in the run-up to the end of World War Two have been released (pictured).

Germany has identified an R rate below 1.0 as the key indicator of whether the epidemic is under control, and therefore whether restrictions can be eased.

Clubs in the German top flight have returned to training in the hope that the rest of the season can be finished off - providing Chancellor Angela Merkel gives the green light for action to resume.

KIT HOLDEN IN GERMANY: On Monday morning, the Bundesliga waited with bated breath for news out of Cologne. When it came, German football breathed a collective sigh of relief.

German Health Minister Jens Spahn, who is openly gay, announced the passage of a law which makes it illegal to promote a service designed to change or suppress sexuality to young people.

Germany eased past hosts Belarus 2-0 with goals from Leroy Sane and Marco Reus on Saturday to make it two wins from their first two Euro 2020 Group C qualifiers. 

Bayern Munich have made no secret of their pursuit of the 23-year-old winger, who has fallen down the pecking order at the Etihad Stadium during Man City's domestic-treble winning campaign.

Germany signed off for the summer holidays with an 8-0 rout of Estonia on Tuesday, keeping the side on track for qualification for the 2020 European Championship with its third win from three games.

Spain beat Germany to secure a record-equalling fifth European Under-21 Championship title thanks to goals in either half from Fabian Ruiz and Dani Olmo.

He has been linked with Juventus and Real Madrid this summer, rumours he himself dismissed as bull****, but agent Marc Kosicke believes the German job could be the one to lure him away.

ADAM SHERGOLD: Coach Joachim Low was ruthless with his refresh of the German team following their humiliations in the World Cup and Nations League last year.

Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill believes Germany will be more beatable at Windsor Park on Monday night with the four-time World Cup winners in the middle of a rebuilding process.

After starting out in Arsenal's youth teams, Serge Gnabry's potential was there for all to see. But whether he could develop his rawness into greatness remained in doubt.

Bayern Munich shot-stopper Manuel Neuer, who remains Germany's No 1 under Joachim Low, has told the Barcelona star to accept his bit-part role for the national team.

KIT HOLDEN: In the end, Marc-Andre ter Stegen let his actions speak louder than words. On Tuesday evening, the Barcelona keeper was indefatigable.

The Germans are without nearly a dozen players, including injured Toni Kroos, Leroy Sane, Antonio Rudiger, Timo Werner Leon Goretzka and Matthias Ginter among others.

Focus in the German camp as he been firmly fixed on who deserves to start in goal for the national team, with Bayern president Uli Hoeness threatening a boycott if his player is usurped.

KIT HOLDEN IN GERMANY: There are many enduring images of Bastian Schweinsteiger. And then there is that one. The one of him with blood streaming down his face in the Maracana in 2014.

With six World Cup wins between them, Germany and Argentina need little introduction. Ahead of their friendly, ALEC FENN examines what has gone wrong with both nations, and what the future holds.

Germany hosted Argentina at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park stadium on Wednesday night in an international friendly. Check out Sportsmail's recap of all the action. 

If you were looking for a bit more proof as to how prepared Joachim Low is in ripping up old blueprints and working towards a different plan then this performance came close to providing it.

The 31-year-old insists he has no regrets over the snap, which saw him become the target of racist abuse in the wake of Germany's shock World Cup exit in 2018.

The Real Madrid man is in line to make his 95th international appearance after a muscle tear ruled him out of the friendly draw with Argentina and qualifying win over Estonia in September.

KIT HOLDEN IN GERMANY: Having begun the year in full-blown crisis mode, Joachim Low's side have stumbled through a minefield. But there is a new problem: their fans are not happy.

Thomas Muller has responded to Joachim Low by revealing he remains angry after the Germany coach said it's unlikely the Bayern Munich star would earn a recall. 

Sportsmail's MARTIN KEOWN gives his rundown of each team in Group F, including the manager, the man to watch out for, their strength and their biggest weakness.

Sportsmail provide you with everything you need to know for the World Cup 2018 clash Germany vs Sweden including how to watch, kick-off time, squads, stats and latest odds.

Sweden could be missing a few players for Saturday's group match against defending champion Germany because of illness and injury.

Toni Kroos scored a sensational last minute winner to keep Germany's World Cup dreams alive with a 2-1 win over Sweden. Relive all the action with Sportsmail's MAX WINTERS here.

MATT BARLOW AT FISHT OLYMPIC STADIUM: For a short time, just over half an hour including the half-time interval, Germany were on their way out of the World Cup.

Sweden boss Janne Andersson accused the Germans of gloating and 'rubbing his face' in defeat after the goal which puts them back in control of their destiny in Group F.

Toni Kroos scored a last-gasp winner to keep Germany's World Cup hopes alive against Sweden on Saturday night. Germany's dramatic win was, unsurprisingly, a hot topic on social media.

Toni Kroos has praised his Germany team-mates for their second-half performance against Sweden on Saturday which saw them come from a goal down to win in the last minute. 

Germany's victory over Sweden unleashed a wave of euphoria among players and coaching staff but Joachim Low said changes would be needed for their final group game against South Korea.

Thunder rumbled as the players boarded the team buses but it would take more than another mighty storm crashing ashore from the Black Sea to clear the air.

Michael O'Neill warned the real tests begin now as his Northern Ireland squad prepare to face Germany in Monday's crunch Euro 2020 qualifier.

Robert Lewandowski has urged Poland to approach their crunch Euro 2016 game against Germany 'without fear' ‒ although the captain admits their opponents are favourites to win the tournament.

Lukas Podolski was born in Poland but plays for Germany, and Thursday's match between the countries at the European Championship promises to be another emotional experience.

Poland's first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny will miss Thursday's Euro 2016 clash with Germany but could return for their final Group C game against Ukraine

World Cup winners Germany lived up to their billing as as one of the clear favourites for Euro 2016 with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine in their opening game.

Germany's players have taken to Twitter ahead of their second game of Euro 2016 Group C against Poland at the Stade de France. Mesut Ozil and Bastian Schweinsteiger both got involved.

Euro 2016 has been something of a feel-good tournament for Germany so far and Joachim Low's men are certainly optimistic they can keep that going when they face Poland on Thursday night.

The German machine showed itself to be functioning perfectly as die Mannschaft brushed aside Ukraine in their opening game. You can follow their clash against Poland with DAN RIPLEY.

MATT BARLOW AT THE STADE DE FRANCE: This time, Joachim Low was left scratching his head as opposed to another part of his anatomy as Poland made his world champions appear mortal..

Tightly marked by past and present club teammates who know him well, Poland striker Robert Lewandowski endured another frustrating match inside the Stade de France on Thursday.

Sportsmail's Martin Keown offers his assessment of Tuesday's two early games at Euro 2016 as Northern Ireland look to secure progress to the last 16 and Poland try to beat Germany to top spot.

One of Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Northern Ireland, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland and Wales are guaranteed a place in the final - none of whom have a major international honour to their name.