Friday 25 March 2016 15:42, UK
Mario Gomez will start up front for Germany against England in Saturday's friendly in Berlin, according to coach Joachim Low.
Besiktas striker Gomez was omitted from his country's World Cup-winning squad in 2014 after struggling for fitness but is being given a chance to earn his place at Euro 2016 after an impressive season in Turkey where he has scored 19 goals in 26 league games.
Gomez, who has 25 goals in 61 appearances for Germany, last played in November 2015 in the 2-0 friendly defeat to France, a game overshadowed by the Paris attacks, with his last two goals coming against the Netherlands at Euro 2012.
"He's improved a lot. You can see it in every training session. You can see that he's gathered more confidence. He has taken a step forward in Turkey," Low said. "He will start tomorrow. He's earned it from his performances in training."
Low said the friendlies against England and then Italy next week provided important preparation opportunities for the summer championship and indicated he would experiment against Roy Hodgson's side on Saturday.
"They're a great stage upon which players in one or the other game, or in both games, can get themselves noticed by the selectors before we pick the final squad," he said.
"The result is not the most important thing. I want to see a good game. We haven't played together in a long time. It will be an interesting game, with both teams playing openly, both teams want to win the game."
Low paid tribute to the progress made by England, and to the work done by his counterpart Hodgson, who has previously coached Switzerland and Inter Milan.
"He has a lot of experience. I know him very well from Switzerland," Low said. "His teams are generally extremely well organized and structured. Whether it was Switzerland or other teams, like England now, it's very difficult to score goals against his sides.
"The results in qualification show that. They're also good on counter-attacks. Tomorrow we'll meet an opponent that has grown stronger."
Low indicated that Bayern Munich forward Mario Gotze will come off the bench against England before starting against Italy in Munich three days later and said he has spoken to the World Cup winner about the difficulties he is facing at his club side as he struggles for game time in Bavaria.
"I hope he gets a few more appearances in Munich. That would help him. But we also have to help him with the national team," said Low. "I have to give him this playing time. It's important that he has a talk with the incoming coach [Carlo Ancelotti], how he fits in his with his plans. That's the first thing he has to do."
Elsewhere, the Germany boss said he was confident that increased security measures would ensure the safety of all players and fans in Berlin on Saturday, and at Euro 2016 this summer.
"We're going through a potentially hazardous time in life. Security is the focus, of course," Low said. "I don't think any of us would want to play a game in an empty stadium. It would be disastrous if it came to that, it must be clearly said."
