Loew set to play strong hand against Spain

DUESSELDORF, Germany: Joachim Loew is keeping his World Cup cards up his sleeve, but the Germany coach is set play a strong hand in Friday’s mouth-watering friendly against Spain.

The defending champions begin to finetune their World Cup preparations with high-profile home friendlies against Spain, in Duesseldorf, and Brazil, in Berlin next Tuesday.Loew revealed Thursday that World Cup winners Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil and Toni Kroos will all face Spain in a strong line-up, although Liverpool midfielder Emre Can is missing after picking up a back injury while on club duty. The biggest absence will be Germany captain Manuel Neuer, recovering from a fractured foot, while Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen will start in goal. There are just three months before the World Cup kicks off in Russia, and while Loew expects both teams to impress on Friday he also knows neither will be keen to put all their wares on display.

“It will be a game in which both teams will want to show what they can do,” said Loew.

“However, neither will want to lay their cards on the table. “If we were to play Spain at the World Cup, it would be a very different game and we know they are a top team in every respect. “Their best 11 to 13 players come from Atletico, Barca and Real, uniting all these virtues. “You have Atletico’s pressing game, Real’s high speed and quick counter-attack with Barca’s possession.