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Absences as England battle Germany

Absences as England battle Germany

LONDON – One of the most keenly contested rivalries in international football kicks off again tonight as England take on Germany at Wembley.

But the so-called friendly clash between the age-old foes could be remembered more for who did not take part than who did, as a spate of injuries continue to take their toll on both teams. Germany will be seeking revenge after the last clash in 2001 produced one of England’s greatest away performances – a 5-1 romp in Munich.Germany were the last team to beat England at Wembley, winning the last match at the old stadium 1-0 in October 2000.And they would love to be the first to beat them at the new Wembley in England’s second game at the rebuilt national stadium.The game is being used as a warm-up match for the round of 2008 European Championship qualifiers in September.Struggling England, fourth in Group E, face Israel on September 8 and Russia on September 12, both at Wembley.Germany lead Group D and play away to Wales on September 8.Some commentators have blasted the game as a farce, given it comes just two weeks into the season and will be played without many first team players.However England manager Steve McClaren insists it can only be good to take on challenging teams like Germany, which also happen to bring a bit of rivalry.The game will be England’s second match at the new Wembley.While the June 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil was a sell-out, the second game will prove a test of the gleaming 90 000-seater venue’s pulling power.But the fact remains the match will be short of star names.Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is out with a fractured left foot.Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is resting a fractured toe, while Tottenham striker Darren Bent, suffering a thigh injury, also misses out.Owen Hargreaves, who made his name with Bayern Munich, is still suffering knee trouble and England veteran Sol Campbell, called up by McClaren for the first time, will not feature due to a groin injury.Tottenham defender Ledley King and winger Aaron Lennon are also out, as is Manchester United right-back Gary Neville and Middlesbrough centre-half Jonathan Woodgate.Striker Michael Owen is probably not fit enough to play a full part.Only 13 outfield England players and the three goalkeepers took part in Monday’s training session.They included David Beckham, the superstar of Major League Soccer in the United States, who could play his second full game since moving to Los Angeles Galaxy in mid-July.Loew is also unable to field his strongest side due to a long injury list.Already without his captain, Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, succumbed to injury over the weekend.Loew had already lost forwards Mario Gomez, Lukas Podolski and Jan Schlaudraff, midfielders Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski and full-backs Marcell Jansen and Clemens Fritz.Jens Lehmann will keep goal despite making dreadful blunders which cost Arsenal two goals in the space of a week.Nampa-AFPGermany will be seeking revenge after the last clash in 2001 produced one of England’s greatest away performances – a 5-1 romp in Munich.Germany were the last team to beat England at Wembley, winning the last match at the old stadium 1-0 in October 2000.And they would love to be the first to beat them at the new Wembley in England’s second game at the rebuilt national stadium.The game is being used as a warm-up match for the round of 2008 European Championship qualifiers in September.Struggling England, fourth in Group E, face Israel on September 8 and Russia on September 12, both at Wembley.Germany lead Group D and play away to Wales on September 8.Some commentators have blasted the game as a farce, given it comes just two weeks into the season and will be played without many first team players.However England manager Steve McClaren insists it can only be good to take on challenging teams like Germany, which also happen to bring a bit of rivalry.The game will be England’s second match at the new Wembley.While the June 1-1 friendly draw with Brazil was a sell-out, the second game will prove a test of the gleaming 90 000-seater venue’s pulling power.But the fact remains the match will be short of star names.Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney is out with a fractured left foot.Liverpool midfielder Steven Gerrard is resting a fractured toe, while Tottenham striker Darren Bent, suffering a thigh injury, also misses out.Owen Hargreaves, who made his name with Bayern Munich, is still suffering knee trouble and England veteran Sol Campbell, called up by McClaren for the first time, will not feature due to a groin injury.Tottenham defender Ledley King and winger Aaron Lennon are also out, as is Manchester United right-back Gary Neville and Middlesbrough centre-half Jonathan Woodgate.Striker Michael Owen is probably not fit enough to play a full part.Only 13 outfield England players and the three goalkeepers took part in Monday’s training session.They included David Beckham, the superstar of Major League Soccer in the United States, who could play his second full game since moving to Los Angeles Galaxy in mid-July.Loew is also unable to field his strongest side due to a long injury list.Already without his captain, Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack, Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, succumbed to injury over the weekend.Loew had already lost forwards Mario Gomez, Lukas Podolski and Jan Schlaudraff, midfielders Torsten Frings and Tim Borowski and full-backs Marcell Jansen and Clemens Fritz.Jens Lehmann will keep goal despite making dreadful blunders which cost Arsenal two goals in the space of a week.Nampa-AFP

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