Sweden vs Germany Match Preview
Germany takes on Sweden in a bid to allow more youngsters to show off their talent on the international stage.

Germany put three past Kazakhstan in their last international match.
Germany is a youthful side with plenty of potential to win future major tournaments. Their youngsters were on show at the World Cup, and, on Wednesday night, more German youngsters will get their chance to shine on the international stage.
Sweden failed to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and coach Erik Hamren has to build a side which will qualify for the Euros in 2012.
Germany has sailed smoothly through their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign so far with four wins out of four. They have conceded just once and scored 13 times. Miroslav Klose has scored six of those 13 goals but misses out on the squad due to injury. Holger Badstuber has also not been named in the squad due to his recent injury. Also Lukas Podolski ruled himself out due to injury.
Philipp Lahm, the captain has not been named following talks with Bayern while Mesut Özil has also not been named following talks with his club, Real Madrid. Bastian Schweinsteiger returns following injury induced absences from the last two Euro 2012 qualifiers. Due to Lahm’s absence, he will take over the armband.
The squad has four newcomers. Mainz’s rising stars Andre Schuerrle and Lewis Holtby have both been named for the first time. Marcel Schmelzer, who might be the answer to Germany’s long standing left-back problem, and team-mate Mario Goetze have also been named.
Hoffenheim captain Andreas Beck, the man axed from the final 2010 World Cup squad, returns. He is joined by three other returnees in Patrick Helmes, Mats Hummels and Kevin Grosskreutz.
No such newcomers are present in the Swedish squad. There are youngsters in the squad but these young faces are little known outside their country and outside the leagues where they ply their trade. The Swedes are third in their Euro 2010 qualifying group behind the Netherlands and Hungary. They beat Hungary and San Marino at home but were crushed by the Dutch, 4-1, in Holland.
This is what Joachim Loew had to say about the game:
“A very positive and successful year comes to an end. One aspect of the match in Gothenburg is of course to bring young players closer to the national team. At the same time, we want to take a successful leave into the winter-break, before a very attractive timetable in 2011, that starts with a classic against Italy in Dortmund on February 9th 2011.”
These are the squads for the match:
Germany:
Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Schalke)
Defenders: Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Jerome Boateng (Manchester City), Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer (both Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Sascha Riether (Wolfsburg), Heiko Westermann (Hamburg)
Midfielders: Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos (both Bayern Munich), Mario Goetze, Kevin Grosskreutz (both Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Lewis Holtby (Mainz), Christian Träsch (Stuttgart)
Attackers: Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Andre Schuerrle (Mainz), Cacau (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Bayer Leverkusen), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich)
Sweden:
Goalkeepers: Andreas Isaksson (PSV), Johan Wiland (Copenhagen)
Defenders: Daniel Majstorovic (Celtic), Olof Mellberg (Olympiakos Piraeus), Andreas Granqvist (Groningen), Behrang Safari (Basel), Oscar Wendt (Copenhagen), Mikael Lustig (Rosenborg)
Midfielders: Anders Svensson (IF Elfsborg), Kim Kallstrom (Olympique Lyonnais), Sebastian Larsson (Birmingham City), Christian Wilhelmsson (Al-Hilal Ryad), Pontus Wernbloom, Rasmus Elm (both AZ), Alexander Gerndt (Helsingborgs)
Attackers: Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Milan), Marcus Berg, Tobias Hysen (Goteborg), Ola Toivonen (both PSV)
Sweden vs Germany Match Report
Sweden drew 0-0 at home against a very youthful Germany side.

Bastian Schweinsteiger had a quiet night.
Germany and Sweden played to a 0-0 draw.
The affair was a dull one where Germany at some points seemed to be the only side which wanted to attack. A lot of youngsters, though, earned their debuts. Mats Hummels and Kevin Grosskreutz came in for their second appearances while Lewis Holtby, Marcel Schmelzer, Andre Schuerrle and Mario Goetze made their debuts.
Joachim Loew made several changes to his normally excellent side. Philipp Lahm, Holger Badstuber, Miroslav Klose, Mesut Oezil and Lukas Podolski were not part of the team this time. Thus, Jerome Boateng slotted in at right back while Heiko Westermann partnered Mats Hummels at the heart of defence. Borussia Dortmund left-back Marcel Schmelzer took the fourth spot at the back. Rene Adler replaced Manuel Neuer in goal.
In attacking midfield, Lewis Holtby slot in behind Mario Gomez while Marko Marin and Kevin Grosskreutz took over the wings. In the first half, Germany started on the attack but failed to produce much in the final third of the pitch. Mario Gomez rarely had possession and the two German central defenders saw the ball more than any other player. Sami Khedira’s shot which missed the goal by inches was the only worthwhile attempt in the first half.
In the second half, Loew replaced Boateng with Andreas Beck. The second half saw Sweden try to attack more but the excellent Hummels and Westermann denied them time and time again. Schmelzer and Hummels were caught by one good ball from the right wing but the Swede strikers couldn’t add a finishing touch. Toni Kroos, Christian Träsch, Andre Schuerrle, Mario Goetze and Cacau replaced Bastian Schweinsteiger, Khedira, Holtby, Grosskreutz and Marin.
Toni Kroos had an immediate impact. His shot was almost the opener; his long ball to Mario Gomez should have resulted in a goal but Gomez wasted the opportunity. Goetze showed his talent when he came on. Earlier, Kim Kallstrom was denied by a small margin from his volley.
Overall, the game wasn’t pleasing on the eye at all and Joachim Loew will probably stick to his original starting eleven for the European Championship qualifiers next year.