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Cash incentive for German players

Michael Ballack and his national team-mates are likely to receive a financial windfall
Michael Ballack and his national team-mates are likely to receive a financial windfall

Germany players could net as much as €150,000 in bonuses by qualifying for the 2008 European Championships in Austria and Switzerland according to the German Football Federation.

Captain Michael Ballack and other experienced players negotiated the bonus payments and they look well placed to cash in after winning their first two Euro 2008 qualifiers against the Republic of  Ireland and San Marino.

If Germany, who finished third at the World Cup, fail to qualify the players will get nothing.

Meanwhile, German coach Joachim Loew plans to experiment with newcomers in a friendly against Georgia in Rostock today.

Germany, who play away in Slovakia next Wednesday in a Euro 2008 qualifier, are without a number of key players through injury.

'It's up to them to prove they belong,' Loew told a news conference on Wednesday.

'The important thing is that they get a little taste of the international team and learn how it feels to be part of the elite.'

Loew called up three untried players last week to his squad: Hamburg SV playmaker Piotr Trochowski, Alemannia Aachen forward Jan Schlaudraff and Werder Bremen defender Clemens Fritz. He also called up Hanover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke.

VfB Stuttgart's Timo Hildebrand, previously number three behind Arsenal's Jens Lehmann and Oliver Kahn until the Bayern keeper retired, will get a rare chance to start against Georgia.

Loew has made it clear that Hildebrand and Enke are in an open battle for the job to be back-up to Lehmann.

Missing through injury are Schalke 04 striker Gerald Asamoah and Werder Bremen's defender Per Mertesacker as well as midfielder Tim Borowski. Also out are defenders Christoph Metzelder, Robert Huth and Jens Nowotny.

'Our priority is clearly the match against Slovakia,' said Loew. We have a chance to open up a six-point lead against a direct rival. That's clearly our goal.'

Germany lead Group D on goal difference with six points from two matches, a 1-0 victory over Ireland and a 13-0 win drubbing of San Marino. The Czech Republic are second with six points.

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