Jogi's Kids Face Danes
March 28, 2007
Having opened up a three-point gap at the top of their Euro 2008 qualifying group after a 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in Prague on Saturday, Löw will rest his first-choice side for Wednesday's game in Duisburg.
Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi, whose headed goals either side of half-time gave Germany the valuable win in Prague, is the most experienced player in the squad with 37 caps.
Alongside captain and Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, the Bayern Munich trio of Philipp Lahm, Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger, as well as Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann are amongst the group who have been sent home.
Werder Bremen players Torsten Frings and Per Mertesacker and Bayer Leverkusen's Bernd Schneider will also miss the game.
"It's all about giving other players their opportunity," Löw said. "Saturday's game was an important and hard fought win for us. The team played well as a unit and put together some intelligent phases of play, but we need to look at other options with a view to the future."
Back-in-favor Kuranyi leads the line
Having only come back into the national side in last month's 3-1 win over Switzerland, 25-year-old Kuranyi is staking a strong case for his place in the first-choice side and is hoping to build on a superb performance.
"Kuranyi has proved that he is in a good vein of form and is scoring some good goals," Löw said. "It's nice to have some options up front."
Kuranyi is likely to partner Bayer Leverkusen forward Paul Freier in attack against the Danes, while the squad's goalkeepers, uncapped Robert Enke and reserve Timo Hildebrand, get their chance to stake a claim.
Pacy midfielder Clemens Fritz from Werder Bremen will start alongside Bremen left-back Christian Schulz and defender VfL Wolfsburg's Alexander Madlung, who is set to add to his single cap he won last autumn in the 2-0 win over Georgia. Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes will also get his chance.
Jogi looks to the future in Euro break
The friendly is a sensible time for Löw, who has an impressive record as coach of seven wins and a draw having succeeded Jürgen Klinsmann last year, to look to the future.
With no more Euro 2008 qualifying fixtures until the visit of minnows San Marino in June, Denmark, who lost 2-1 to Spain in Madrid at the weekend, will provide a good work out for his inexperienced side.
However, Morten Olsen, the opposing coach, is less than happy about facing a deliberately under-strength Germany team in Duisburg.
Danes not amused
"This is very disrespectful," Olsen was quoted as saying by German media on Tuesday. "We had a clear agreement to field our strongest teams.
"I wasn't told about it by the DFB (German Soccer Association). I read about it in the newspapers and you don't do that."
The 57-year-old also fears that a game against a weakened Germany will hamper his preparations for their Euro 2008 qualifier against Sweden in June.
But 25-year-old Rolfes was adamant Germany will be no push-overs at Duisburg's MSV-Arena and Olsen's worries will be proved wrong.
"The Danes do not need to underestimate us," he said. "This is a huge challenge for us, we want to prove we are good enough for the national side."