International friendly: Sweden 0 Germany 0

German coach Joachim Loew continued to promote his youth policy, fielding a side with an average age of 23.

Sweden were looking to bounce back after their 4-1 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands in October, and in the absence of strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Johan Elmander coach Erik Hamren started with a five-man midfield to suffocate Germany’s elaborate passing game.

Chances were few and far between in the opening half with Bastian Schweinsteiger registering the game’s first shot on target in the 36th minute.

PSV striker Ola Toivonen had a good chance to break to deadlock for Sweden nearing half-time, but he miscued his shot from inside the area after being set up by Christian Wilhelmsson.

Toivonen was looking increasingly isolated as a lone striker and was too often forced into the midfield to find the ball.

Sami Khedira nearly put Germany ahead just before the interval after latching onto a long ball, but his lob over Sweden goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson went over the bar.

Lyon’s Kim Kallstrom should have done better after he fired his volley wide in the 64th minute, while German substitute Tony Kroos forced a good save from Isaksson minutes later with a long-range drive.

The game’s tempo fizzled out in the later stages and with neither side looking likely to snare a late equaliser a draw was the fair result.