Joachim Loew will field a patched-up side against Holland in Wednesday’s friendly, but the Germany coach insists his team will stay true to their attack ideals against the Oranje.
Loew’s plans to bring a full-strength squad to Amsterdam have been thwarted by a deluge of injuries and illness to key players.
Vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and veteran striker Miroslav Klose are missing with flu, playmaker Mesut Ozil has a muscle strain, midfielder Toni Kroos is ill and left-back Marcel Schmelzer has a bruised foot.
Bayern defenders Jerome Boateng and Holger Badstuber both have torn muscles, while Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira is coming back from a thigh injury.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal has his own injury problems with Manchester United striker Robin van Persie and Inter Milan midfielder Wesley Sneijder both out.
The Germans might be weakened, but Loew insists his team will stick to the brand of attacking football he has instilled, despite coming under pressure for recent results.
“Every game brings important insights. Now we will use the opportunity to give one or two players their chance,” said the 52-year-old.
“Generally, we will remain true to our offensive style, we have the players who have the skills.
“German virtues are now about technically good players playing attacking football.”
Loew is under pressure from the German media after his team threw away a four-goal lead in the 4-4 draw with Sweden last month in a World Cup qualifier with questions hanging over the defence.
The German defence was also exposed during their 2-1 Euro 2012 semi-final defeat by Italy and Loew admits it has been the toughest few months of his six-year tenure.
“We need to improve our organisation and work things out defensively, without sacrificing our way of playing,” he said.
“Our focus must be to have stability in our game from the beginning.”
With Klose out, Loew is likely to play Borussia Dortmund attacking midfielder Marco Reus as a lone striker rather than promote Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski.
“Can Lukas can also play up front, but that is not his ideal position. He is better playing behind a striker or on the left,” said Loew.
Loew will field a revamped defence with captain Philipp Lahm switching to left-back, Benedikt Hoewedes playing on the right with Per Mertesacker and Mats Hummels at centre-back.
Loew eager for Germans to stay on attack
