Germany boss Joachim Low will not ask a 'battered' Bastian Schweinsteiger to face Israel on Thursday, but he will be experimenting with his back four.
Germany boss to rest midfielder and ask Lahm to play at left-back
Germany boss Joachim Low will not ask a 'battered' Bastian Schweinsteiger to face Israel on Thursday, but he will be experimenting with his back four.
Bayern Munich midfielder Schweinsteiger is still feeling the effects of a gruelling 2011/12 campaign that reached a climax in the UEFA Champions League final.
His mental state, having missed a penalty against Chelsea to help them prevail in a shootout, is not a cause for concern, but he is carrying a slight calf strain.
Low is confident the 27-year-old, who is a key part of his squad, will be ready for Germany's Euro 2012 opener against Portugal on 9th June, but admits he is likely to sit out their final warm-up game.
"I will not use a battered player," he said.
"He is doing some individual training at the moment and I am sure he is physically and psychologically strong enough to put the injuries of last season behind him."
Test
While Schweinsteiger is set to be rested against Israel, his club colleague Philipp Lahm is set to feature.
He will, however, be asked to fill in at left-back, with Bayern team-mate Jerome Boateng slotting in on the right.
"Against Israel, Philipp will start on the left because I want to try something out but it means nothing as to how we will play against Portugal in the first group game," said Low.
"The decision on [where he will play at the Euros] will be taken next week.
"I see this game as a test for us because I want to try a few things to see how some players adapt to them."
Faith
Low's tactical change comes after his side lost 5-3 to Switzerland at the weekend, when he took the decision to rest all of his Bayern contingent.
With first-choice Holger Badstuber therefore absent, Mats Hummels and Per Mertesacker were paired at the heart of defence and, despite struggling, Low insists he has full faith in their ability.
"It may not have worked 100 per cent in the co-ordination between [Mertesacker and Hummels] but the two can work outstandingly together," he said.
"All three play at a very good level as central defenders at the highest level internationally. We are in a position where they all fit well together, no matter who plays.
"What we need to do now is fine-tune those little nuances."
