René Adler and Robert Enke for South Africa and Azerbaijan meetings

Bayer Leverkusen's René Adler guards the German goal in the upcoming friendly against South Africa in Leverkusen on September 5, 2009. Four days later, Hannover 96-keeper Robert Enke takes over when the DFB-team faces Azerbaijan in a game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying round, scheduled for Hanover on September 9. DFB-coach Joachim Löw announced his nominations for the next two international games today.

Löw and Andreas Köpke, the goalkeeping coach for the national team, are determined to rotate goalkeepers throughout the remainder of 2009. In case Germany avoids dropping into second place, which then would trigger a playoff, the DFB-team meets Chile on November 14 in Cologne and Egypt on November 18 in Gelsenkirchen. Bremen's Tim Wiese’s name is pencilled in for the Cologne-date, Schalke's Manuel Neuer would field the position in Gelsenkirchen.

Köpke says: “If everything proceeds according to plan, each one of our four candidates should get a fair shot playing at least one full game.” Joachim Löw adds: “The decision which goalkeeper receives the nod for the games against Russia in Moscow and Finland in Hamburg, will be on short-notice. Our target remains unchanged. We want to finish first in our group.”

Looking ahead to South Africa and Azerbaijan, Löw says: “For the first time in a year, we’ll have the team assembled for ten days. That’s a blessing, since we’ll have quality practice time over an extended period. I expect a much improved performance in Leverkusen and Hanover. We know exactly, what caused the dip in the curve recently.”

The team will meet in Cologne on Monday. On Tuesday, team physician Dr. Tim Meyer conducts a physical fitness test for the A-team and the under 21 national team, which also stays in Cologne as well, residing in the same hotel. The U 21 face San Marino in a Euro-qualifier on September 4 in Aachen. The reigning European champions will be honoured for their latest success at a diner event on Tuesday, with DFB President Dr. Theo Zwanziger, General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach and DFB Sports Director Matthias Sammer attending.

Source: DFB Official Site