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Germany 0-0 Poland: Low's experimental side held to a draw in Hamburg
With stars from Bayern, Dortmund and Arsenal rested, a youthful home side were unable to break down their resilient visitors in the World Cup warm-up
Germany were held to a 0-0 draw by Poland on Tuesday in the first of their World Cup warm-up matches.
Max Meyer came close to breaking the deadlock in the second half, while Julian Draxler also threatened, but ultimately a drab match drew to a stalemate in Hamburg.
Germany boss Low played eight debutants from the start on Tuesday, resulting in the country's youngest ever team to begin an international match.
But the hosts lacked cohesion and fluidity against a Poland side who will not play a part in this year's World Cup in Brazil.
Low fielded a starting line-up with an average age of less than 22, and of his 30-man preliminary party for the Brazil showpiece, just seven were in Germany's matchday squad, with the likes of Meyer, Leon Goretzka and Matthias Ginter all keen to make impressions.
Kevin Volland, just one of two strikers chosen in Low's initial squad, had an early shot deflected wide but that, and Draxler's ambitious attempt from distance, failed to lift a slow tempo.
Poland - missing injured captain Jakub Blaszczykowski and Bayern Munich-bound striker Robert Lewandowski – gradually worked themselves into the game, as Marcin Robak nodded over at the near post in the 24th minute.
The visitors tested stand-in Germany goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler on the half-hour mark, too, with the Hannover man making a diving save to keep out a good Mateusz Klich strike.
It was debutant Antonio Rudiger who had the first half's best chance, though, as his firm header was kept out by Peszko in the 32nd minute.
Low introduced goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, defender Benedikt Howedes and Hahn at the break, but the second half was a case of more of the same.
Meyer had a decent 15-yard effort saved by Poland goalkeeper Artur Boruc, but that was all they had to show for 15 minutes of control, while a header that flashed wide from substitute Michal Zyro gave the visitors confidence.
Poland began to find more space on the counter, but could not breach an organised Germany defence, while Volland, taken off in the 71st minute, would have rued his failure to make a significant impact.
Hahn was close with six minutes left, but, in truth, neither side deserved to win.
Germany now have just two friendlies, against Cameroon and Armenia, before beginning their World Cup campaign against Portugal on June 16.
For Poland, they host Lithuania in a friendly next month before their bid to qualify for Euro 2016 begins in September.
'It was fun' - Low praises Germany youngsters after Poland draw
By Joe Wright
May 14, 2014 12:18:00 AM
A total of twelve debutants featured in Tuesday's friendly in Hamburg and the 54-year-old believes they deserve credit for their displays
Germany head coach Joachim Low says he enjoyed watching a number of debutants in action on Tuesday in the 0-0 friendly draw with Poland.
A total of 12 players - including Antonio Rudiger, Shkodran Mustafi and Max Meyer - were handed their first senior appearances for Germany in the clash in Hamburg, with Schalke star Julian Draxler becoming the team's youngest-ever captain at the age of 20 after donning the armband for the game.
Despite a pedestrian pace to the game and a lack of goalmouth action, Low insists he was entertained by his young World Cup hopefuls, who are vying for a place in the 54-year-old's final 23-man squad to take to Brazil this summer.
"It was fun," he said after the match. "We had an amazing number of newcomers to the team, who did their job very well.
"We were well organised and played properly. Even without the goals, it was an entertaining game."
Draxler admitted he was proud to have captained the side at such a young age and stressed it was difficult to find their rhythm with such a makeshift set-up.
"To be captain of the national team at such a young age says a lot," he said. "Today was almost an Under-21 match.
"If you've only trained once with the team it's hard to implement things. We did well."
Draxler's Schalke team-mate Meyer, who came close to breaking the deadlock at Imtech Arena, says he has not given up hope of earning a surprise place in Low's final squad for this summer.
"The coach must now decide if I stay," he said. "I haven't booked holiday for June or July yet."
