Germany Head Coach Jürgen Klinsmann has named his squad to face Italy in a friendly on March 1. Goalkeeper Oliver Kahn has been forced out of Germany's squad to face Italy because of a thigh injury.

The Bayern Munich goalkeeper was hurt during the 1-1 draw with Hanover 96 last weekend and failed to recover in time for the Champions League match against AC Milan on Tuesday.

Jürgen Klinsmann said on Friday that Arsenal's Jens Lehmann would play in goal against Italy in Florence next week, with Kahn coming back to face the United States in Dortmund on March 22.

Klinsmann's original plan had been to play Kahn against Italy and Lehmann against the U.S. in an effort to alternate the two goalkeepers ahead of the World Cup.

Timo Hildebrand of VfB Stuttgart has been called up as Kahn's replacement against Italy, but will have to be content with a place on the bench for the friendly.

Klinsmann has so far declined to comment on his decision as to who will be Germany’s first choice keeper for the World Cup Finals.

Germany have been drawn in Group A in the Finals and face Poland, Costa Rica and Ecuador.

Hosts Germany get the tournament underway with a Group A game against Costa Rica in Munich on June 9.

Germany squad to face Italy (team to be chosen from):

Goalkeepers: Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal FC)

Defenders: Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC Berlin), Robert Huth (Chelsea FC), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (Hannover 96), Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Patrick Owomoyela (Werder Bremen)

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (FC Bayern München), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Sebastian Deisler (FC Bayern München(, Fabian Ernst (FC Schalke 04), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)

Strikers: Gerald Asamoah (FC Schalke) Mike Hanke (VfL Wolfsburg), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Lukas Podolski (FC Köln)

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