Uncapped Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender has been called into the Germany squad for Tuesday's friendly against Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland in Gdansk.
The 22-year-old was telephoned by Germany coach Joachim Loew on Sunday morning and joined the team in Duesseldorf before Monday's flight to Gdansk, whose Municipal Stadium will host Euro 2012 matches next June.
Germany qualified for the Euro 2012 finals with a 6-2 win over Austria in Gelsenkirchen on Friday.
Loew has opted to rest three of his first-choice players in vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, both of Bayern Munich, as well as play-maker Mesut Ozil of Real Madrid, for the friendly.
Bender was part of the junior Germany team which won the Under-19 European title in 2008 and will be included in the 19-man squad Loew will take to Gdansk.
His twin brother Sven made his debut for Germany in the friendly defeat to Australia in March and is part of the Borussia Dortmund team which won the German league title last season.
The national team trained in Duesseldorf on Sunday and Schalke defender Benedikt Hoewedes was the only absentee as he struggles with a groin strain suffered in the first-half of the win over Austria.
Source: AFP
