Germany held in Sweden stalemate

Germany and Sweden fought out a drab goalless draw in a friendly international of few chances in Gothenburg on Wednesday, dpa reported.

Joachim Loew's youthful Germany side minus several rested or injured first-choice players lacked the inspiration while an unadventurous Sweden side were content to play for a draw.

Loew gave first caps from the start to Borussia Dortmund left-back Marcel Schmelzer and Mainz midfielder Lewis Holtby.

Andre Schuerrle of Mainz and Mario Goetze of Dortmund also made their debuts late on - 18-year-old Goetze thus becoming the youngest German debutant since a 17-year-old Uwe Seeler in 1954.

Loew, who had rested several first-teamers including Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil, Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm and club team- mate Thomas Mueller, began with six players 22 or under.

Sweden, who were without rested striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic, defended deep and it was left to the visitors to take the initiative on a heavily sanded pitch at the Nya Ullevi Stadium.

However Germany's endeavours rarely troubled the home side who created the first chance of the game in the 27th minute when Pontus Wernbloom turned a cross from Sebastian Larsson well over the bar.

Schmelzer got forward for Germany to hit a long-range shot which Andreas Isaksson in goal stretched to save.

But it was the home side who again fashioned another opportunity when Christian Wilhelmsson got past Jerome Boateng and crossed only for Ola Toivonen to miskick in front of goal.

Holtby went close for Germany midway through the second half with a shot that flashed across goal after combining well with Marko Marin in one of the few moments of danger after the break for either side.

Rene Adler, back in the German goal for his first game since missing the World Cup through injury, was largely a spectator.

Isaksson at the other end, meanwhile, had to look sharp to parry a 25-metre effort from Toni Kroos, a 59th-minute substitute for acting captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, and three German players were then ruled offside.

Goetze for Schmelzer and Schuerrle for Holtby earned their first caps with 12 minutes remaining as Loew used up his contingent of six substitutes, while Sweden coach Erik Hamren also made four changes in the later stages but neither side looked like ending the stalemate.