Germany's Loew to pair Oezil and Goetze, make tactical switch

Nov 6, 2011, 12:48 GMT

Berlin - Germany coach Joachim Loew plans to play creative midfield duo Mesut Oezil and Mario Goetze together and also use two strikers in at least one of two forthcoming friendly internationals.

Loew said Sunday he intended to pick Real Madrid's Oezil and Borussia Dortmund's Goetze together for one of the games against Ukraine on Friday or the Netherlands four days later.

Goetze, 19, has not started with Oezil since making his debut in the national team a year ago, although the two have been on the pitch together following substitutions.

Goetze was in the starting line-up in Germany's 2-2 draw in Poland in September and a 3-1 Euro 2012 qualifying win in Turkey last month when Oezil was rested or injured. His 10 appearances so far have included seven as a substitute.

Loew will also make a tactical switch from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 in one of the matches, allowing him to pair Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez with former Bayern Munich team-mate Miroslav Klose, now with Lazio.

Hanover keeper Ron-Robert Zieler will make his debut against Ukraine in Kiev, with Loew saying the keeper would play at least 45 minutes.

Zieler, 22, and Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese are nominated for the match against Ukraine, with first-choice keeper Manuel Neuer then joining the squad for the friendly in Hamburg against the Dutch.

'This is the state of the planning right now. All other decisions will be taking in the next few days after the impressions I gain from training,' Loew said.

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