Goal-scorer Gomez pulls out of training

Striker Mario Gomez pulled out of training with a knee injury yesterday having scored the first goal in Germany's 2-0 win over South Africa in a friendly on Saturday.

With Germany facing minnows Azerbaijan on Wednesday in Hanover with World Cup qualifying points at stake, Bayern Munich's Gomez pulled out of training in Cologne yesterday complaining of pain in his right knee and received treatment.

The rest of the squad trained without problems and Germany coach Joachim Loew said he was happy with Saturday night's performance, having played a 4-3-3 system rather than the traditional 4-4-2 formation.

Loew used the speed of 20-year-old wingers Mesut Oezil and Marko Marin to exploit space down the flanks for lone striker Gomez, while Werder Bremen's Oezil scored Germany's second goal.

"My team did well both in terms of result and performance," said Loew who criticised his team last month when they struggled to a 2-0 win over Azerbaijan in Baku in a World Cup qualifier.

"That was a clear improvement in relation to our last few games, we were more fluid on the ball. We have been together for a week now and you could see the benefits of the extra training. There are still a few things which don't fit into the way we play."

Germany lead Group Four by a single point and face their most important game of the qualification campaign so far when they take on Russia in Moscow on October 10.