Bundesliga
Internationals
18.11.2009 13:03:03
Germany coach Joachim Löw (r) will be placing his trust in Werder Bremen keeper Tim Wiese for the match against Ivory Coast.
Time to experiment
Werder Bremen goalkeeper Tim Wiese and Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling will be celebrating their first starts in a Germany shirt tonight in the friendly match against the Ivory Coast.
General manager Oliver Bierhoff informed the press of coach Joachim Löw's probable selection, adding that Schalke 04 shot-stopper Manuel Neuer is likely to take over between the sticks in the second half.
Kiessling as lone striker
Löw is expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served him well in recent months against the Africans, with Leverkusen hitman Stefan Kiessling set to start alone up front in the absence of Miroslav Klose. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen) and Lukas Podolski (1. FC Köln) will be supporting from midfield.
The two defensive midfield positions are likely to be occupied by Stuttgart's Thomas Hitzlsperger and Christian Gentner of champions VfL Wolfsburg as captain Michael Ballack misses out with a knee problem.
Beck to start
Andreas Beck should continue in his role on the right of the defensive quartet, with left-back filled by the ever-present Philipp Lahm. The Bayern München full-back is also in the frame to take over the captaincy from Ballack. Bremen's Per Mertesacker and Schalke captain Heiko Westermann will partner one another at the heart of the defence.
Probable line ups (age/caps):
Germany: Wiese/Werder Bremen (27/1)- Beck/1899 Hoffenheim (22/5), Mertesacker/Werder Bremen (25/58), Westermann/Schalke 04 (26/16), Lahm/Bayern München (26/62) - Hitzlsperger/VfB Stuttgart (27/50), Gentner/VfL Wolfsburg (24/4)- Schweinsteiger/Bayern München (25/71), Özil/Werder Bremen (21/6), Podolski/1. FC Köln (24/68)- Kiessling/Bayer Leverkusen (25/1)
Ivory Coast: Zogbo/Maccabi Netanya (27/4) - Eboue/FC Arsenal (26/36), Demel/Hamburger SV (28/20), Toure/Manchester City (28/74), Boka/VfB Stuttgart (26/54) - Zokora/FC Sevilla (28/79) - Toure/FC Barcelona (26/44), Romaric/FC Sevilla (26/27) - Keita/Galatasary Istanbul (28/47), Kalou/FC Chelsea (24/22) - Gervinho/OSC Lille (22/8)
Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)
Kiessling as lone striker
Löw is expected to stick with the 4-2-3-1 formation that has served him well in recent months against the Africans, with Leverkusen hitman Stefan Kiessling set to start alone up front in the absence of Miroslav Klose. Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen) and Lukas Podolski (1. FC Köln) will be supporting from midfield.
The two defensive midfield positions are likely to be occupied by Stuttgart's Thomas Hitzlsperger and Christian Gentner of champions VfL Wolfsburg as captain Michael Ballack misses out with a knee problem.
Beck to start
Andreas Beck should continue in his role on the right of the defensive quartet, with left-back filled by the ever-present Philipp Lahm. The Bayern München full-back is also in the frame to take over the captaincy from Ballack. Bremen's Per Mertesacker and Schalke captain Heiko Westermann will partner one another at the heart of the defence.
Probable line ups (age/caps):
Germany: Wiese/Werder Bremen (27/1)- Beck/1899 Hoffenheim (22/5), Mertesacker/Werder Bremen (25/58), Westermann/Schalke 04 (26/16), Lahm/Bayern München (26/62) - Hitzlsperger/VfB Stuttgart (27/50), Gentner/VfL Wolfsburg (24/4)- Schweinsteiger/Bayern München (25/71), Özil/Werder Bremen (21/6), Podolski/1. FC Köln (24/68)- Kiessling/Bayer Leverkusen (25/1)
Ivory Coast: Zogbo/Maccabi Netanya (27/4) - Eboue/FC Arsenal (26/36), Demel/Hamburger SV (28/20), Toure/Manchester City (28/74), Boka/VfB Stuttgart (26/54) - Zokora/FC Sevilla (28/79) - Toure/FC Barcelona (26/44), Romaric/FC Sevilla (26/27) - Keita/Galatasary Istanbul (28/47), Kalou/FC Chelsea (24/22) - Gervinho/OSC Lille (22/8)
Referee: Björn Kuipers (Netherlands)
