Low recalls Gomez, to start Adler

Mario Gomez has been recalled to the Germany squad for the first time since UEFA Euro 2012, forming part of a 23-man squad to face France in a friendly in Paris next Wednesday. Gomez has missed out through injury recently but Germany coach Joachim Low said: "Mario Gomez is back in a good physical condition after his long injury. "Like Miroslav Klose, he has everything needed to put our philosophy into practice in the centre forward's role. I am convinced that, given his qualities and his experience, he will be able to prove himself again at the highest international level." Gomez will not get a better chance than against France, who Low says are one of the best nations around. "France are on their way back to their former best and, for me, they are among the best in the world," Low said. "They impressed me a lot in their last two away games against Spain and Italy and you can clearly identify the signature of their coach Didier Deschamps. I rate him very highly since he loves quick, attacking football, just like I do." Low revealed that Rene Adler will keep goal in place of Manuel Neuer, who will return as number one next month. "Rene played an excellent first half of the season in the Bundesliga," Low added. "After returning to our squad to face the Netherlands, he has now earned the chance to prove himself against France. In March, we will then put our faith in Manuel Neuer again for the decisive World Cup qualifying games. He is still our clear number one." Apart from the injured Holger Badstuber, Low has been able to name his strongest possible squad, including the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, who all missed out against the Netherlands in November. "I think we have a very good squad which we need to be able to play on a par with a technically very strong France side," he added. "It is going to be a real test for us and we are looking forward to this neighbourly battle in Paris. We want to use it to warm us up for a year in which direct qualification for the 2014 FIFA World Cup™ is the clear objective." Germany squad to face France: Goalkeepers: Neuer (Bayern Munich), Adler (Hamburg); Defenders: Lahm (Bayern Munich) Boateng (Bayern Munich), Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Howedes (Schalke), Mertesacker (Arsenal), Westermann (Hamburg); Midfielders:  Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund), Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Draxler (Schalke), Muller (Bayern Munich), Kroos (Bayern Munich), Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Khedira (Real Madrid), Ozil (Real Madrid); Forwards: Gomez (Bayern Munich), Klose (Lazio), Podolski (Arsenal). From FIFA