Miroslav Klose will lead Germany's attack in the World Cup match against Australia at Moses Mabidha Stadium on Sunday.
Klose has scored 10 goals in World Cup finals but he has had a difficult season with Bayern Munich. Still, coach Joachim Loew went with his veteran.
Australia left Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy out of their starting lineup and will go into the Group D game without a recognized striker. Tim Cahill and Richard Garcia will take over attacking duties, while Carl Valeri starts instead of Mark Bresciano.
Australia coach Pim Verbeek has made several surprise selections. He left Harry Kewell and Josh Kennedy out of the starting lineup and goes into the game without a recognized striker. Tim Cahill and Richard Garcia will take over attacking duties, while defensive midfielder Carl Valeri starts instead of Mark Bresciano.
Loew also picked two Bayern Munich newcomers, defender Holger Badstuber and midfielder Thomas Mueller, who both have only two games for Germany, both tuneups ahead of the World Cup. Germany has arrived with the second youngest team in its World Cup history, with an average age of just under 25.
Cahill usually plays as an attacking midfielder but has been used as a striker for English club Everton, while Garcia is usually deployed as a winger. Kewell has been struggling with a groin injury but was named on the bench.
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Lineups:
Germany: Manuel Neuer; Philipp Lahm, Arne Friedrich, Per Mertesacker, Holger Badstuber, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Mesut Oezil, Thomas Mueller, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose.
Australia: Mark Schwarzer; Luke Wilkshire, Craig Moore, Lucas Neill, Scott Chipperfield, Brett Emerton, Jason Culina, Vince Grella, Carl Valeri, Tim Cahill, Richard Garcia.
