Klose on bench as Loew shuffles German pack

Germany coach Joachim Loew dropped top scorer Miroslav Klose, captain Philipp Lahm and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer for the World Cup third-place play-off with Uruguay on Saturday.

Klose, who is one goal short of equalling Ronaldo’s overall record of 15 World Cup finals goals, has been suffering from a back problem since the 1-0 semi-final defeat by Spain.

He has scored four goals in South Africa and is one goal behind Spain’s David Villa and Wesley Sneijder of the Netherlands in the race for the Golden Boot, which he won at the last tournament in 2006.

Klose’s place at the point of the Germany attack was taken by naturalised Brazilian striker Cacau, while fellow forward Lukas Podolski ceded his place to Marcell Jansen.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Hans-Joerg Butt takes Neuer’s spot between the posts, with Lahm’s place going to Dennis Aogo and Bastian Schweinsteiger handed the captain’s armband.

Luis Suarez, suspended for Uruguay’s last-four defeat by Holland, returns in attack for Oscar Tabarez’s side alongside Diego Forlan, who is level with Klose on four goals.

Left-back Jorge Fucile also returns from suspension, with skipper Diego Lugano taking his place at centre-back after overcoming a knee injury.

TEAMS:

Uruguay

Fernando Muslera – Martin Caceres, Diego Lugano (capt), Diego Godin, Jorge Fucile – Maxi Pereira, Diego Perez, Egidio Arevalo Rios – Edinson Cavani, Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez

Coach: Oscar Tabarez

Germany

Hans-Joerg Butt – Jerome Boateng, Per Mertesacker, Arne Friedrich, Dennis Aogo – Bastian Schweinsteiger (capt), Sami Khedira – Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Marcell Jansen – Cacau

Coach: Joachim Loew

Referee: Benito Archundia (MEX)