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Low: Reus and Gotze are more than substitutes for Germany
Posted Thursday, April 26, 2012 by Goal.com

Low: Reus and Gotze are more than substitutes for Germany

Germany coach Joachim Low has hinted that Marco Reus and Mario Gotze might start for the team at this summer's European Championship.

Reus has lifted Monchengladbach to a surprise fourth-placed position in the Bundesliga, while Gotze - though injured for much of Dortmund's title-winning campaign - has in the past proven himself in the Germany squad. And while many of Low's attackers are seasoned internationals, the coach asserted that outsiders will have their chances.

"Marco Reus has not played with us so often, but for me he is one of the winners of the Bundesliga season," he told Sport-Bild.

"Gotze has only been with us for about a year, but plays as though he's always been part of this team. I think that both can play more than just a bench role at the European Championship."

Given the congested schedule of Euro 2012, Low could opt to use a rotation system, in which Gotze and Reus could deputise for two of the tried-and-true attacking midfield combination of Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Lukas Podolski.

Low also revealed that he is considering experimenting with Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose as options in a two-striker system. However, he admitted that such a system is not likely to be his preferred tactical set-up.

"On the other hand, as of late we have only played with one central striker. So I think it is likely that we will go into the tournament with similar tactics."

Low is set to announce his squad on May 7.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia