Holland held to a goalless draw by Germany

Drab Dutch draw is relief for Germany's Lahm Holland were held to a goalless draw by neighbours Germany in Wednesday's international friendly with both injury-hit teams fielding make-shift sides after a raft of withdrawals. With both nations top of their respective World Cup qualifying groups and missing several stars, an experimental theme ran through both line-ups at Amsterdam Arena, but there was little to light up a fairly dull encounter.
Germany beat Holland 2-1 in their group stage clash at Euro 2012 and the Dutch lost 3-0 in Hamburg last November in a friendly, the Dutch were well placed to take advantage of a weakened Germany.
But the hosts failed to take their chance for a first win over the Germans since November 2002.
Dutch coach Louis van Gaal opted to give Ajax goalkeeper Kenneth Vermeer his debut while Fenerbahce striker Dirk Kuyt captained the Netherlands.
The Germany-based trio of Arjen Robben, Rafael van der Vaart and Ibrahim Afellay led a strong forward line while both Robin van Persie and Wesley Sneijder are injured.
Likewise, Germany coach Joachim Loew, who was missing eight key players, opted to start midfielder Mario Goetze as a striker leading a youthful attack ahead of Thomas Mueller, Lewis Holtby and Marco Reus, the eldest at 23.
With stars Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira unavailable, Loew fielded Borussia Dortmund's Ilkay Gundagon and Lars Bender in the defensive midfield.
Only four of the team survived from the Germany line-up which drew 4-4 with Sweden in last month's World Cup qualifier having thrown away a four-goal lead -- the first time that had happened in the country's 104-year history.
Both sides squandered first-half chances: Goetze was denied from close-range by Vermeer after a mix-up in the Dutch defence, while only desperate defending stopped Robben capitalising when a Afellay pass put him through.
Van Gaal brought on fresh legs at half-time with three changes including Eljero Elia for Robben while Feyenoord pair Daryl Janmaat and Stefan de Vrij were given more experience with only a handful of caps between them.
Loew waited until the final 20 minutes before bringing on Arsenal's Lukas Podolski for Goetze to try to break the deadlock, while AC Milan's Urby Emanuelson replaced Van der Vaart.
Only a fine save from Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer with 76 minutes gone denied Elia's fierce strike which was heading to the bottom right-hand corner.
Loew kept things in the family late on as Sven Bender came on for his twin brother Lars and the Dortmund midfielder was quickly called into action to help deny AC Milan's Nigel de Jong in the dying stages.
The echo of whistles and boos around the stadium summed up a frustrating night for fans and players alike.