Adler gets nod for Germany ahead of World Cup qualifiers
By DPA, IANSTuesday, September 22, 2009
HAMBURG - Bayer Leverkuisen’s Rene Adler will be in goal form for Germany’s key World Cup qualifiers next month.
Coach Joachim Loew told Tuesday’s Bild newspaper Adler was his first choice in the absence of Hanover’s Robert Enke, who will not be considered while he recovers from an infection.
Adler came in for Enke for Germany’s last World Cup qualifier against Azerbaijan September 9, and also played a friendly against South Africa a few days earlier.
“Rene played well in the last two internationals. I have complete faith in him,” Loew was quoted by Bild as saying.
Loew had already named Enke as his number one for the qualifiers against Russia in Moscow October 10 and Finland in Hamburg four days later.
But Monday he decided against selecting the 32-year-old keeper, who is recovering from a bacterial infection and is only likely to be back in action shortly before the Group 4 matches.
Loew confirmed he would call up three keepers for the two qualifiers - Adler, Schalke’s Manuel Neuer and Werder Bremen’s Tim Wiese.
