Loew under pressure as Germany takes on Dutch

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- Germany is aiming to finish a disappointing 2012 on a high by beating archrival the Netherlands for the third time in 12 months when they play Wednesday in this week's standout international friendly.

"We want to finish the year on a good note, and win over our fans with a good performance,'' Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

He will have to do it with a virtual second team after a string of stars withdrew with injury or illness.

Germany will be without the Bayern Munich trio of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Jerome Boateng as well as Lazio striker Miroslav Klose, Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Oezil and Borussia Dortmund's Marcel Schmelzer due to illness and injury.

Striker Mario Gomez, who scored both German goals in his team's 2-1 defeat of the Netherlands in the European Championship in June, is also out.

Loew is under pressure after Germany lost to Italy in the Euro 2012 semifinals and squandered a 4-0 lead to draw 4-4 with Sweden in its last World Cup qualifier.

Key Netherlands players Wesley Sneijder and Robin van Persie are also out injured for Wednesday's match at Amsterdam Arena when Italy also hosts France, Spain takes on Panama and England plays Sweden in Stockholm.

Netherlands winger Arjen Robben, who plays his club football at Bayern Munich, said the Germans will be aiming to avenge the Sweden debacle.

"Germany is definitely under pressure after the 4-4 against Sweden,'' Robben told the official Dutch supporter's club website Ons Oranje. "They are desperate to restore some pride.''

While Van Persie is out for the Netherlands, his likely replacement up front knows all about scoring goals against German defenses. Klaas Jan Huntelaar was the Bundesliga's top scorer last season for his club Schalke 04.

Huntelaar is not just a prolific striker at club level. With 34 goals in 59 internationals, Huntelaar is closing in on all-time Dutch top scorer Patrick Kluivert's tally of 40 goals in 79 games.

Huntelaar is one of six players in the Dutch squad who play in Germany. Add to that coach Louis van Gaal's experience in leading Bayern to the Bundesliga title and the Netherlands knows its opponent inside out.

The close club ties between players on both sides mean that much of the animosity that used to mark matches between the neighboring nations is now gone.

"It's special that you are taking on players you know like the back of your hand,'' Van Gaal said.