Loew wants Metzelder and Schneider

BERLIN (AP) - Germany coach Joachim Loew wants defender Christoph Metzelder and midfielder Bernd Schneider to play at the European Championship despite injury and form problems. Both players started for Germany at the World Cup in 2002 - when it reached the final - and also in 2006 when the team went out in the semifinals. Metzelder hasn't played a game this year due to a foot problem, while Schneider has been out of form at Bayer Leverkusen.

Loew believes they will be ready for Germany's first game against Poland on June 8.

"I expect Metzelder to start training with Real Madrid in the next three weeks and maybe play a game," Loew said Thursday. "And Schneider at least has been training. Then we just have to work intensively with them to see these players reach the right level."

Loew will name his 23-man roster for the three-time European champions on May 16. About a dozen players are still competing for a maximum four places still open.

The tournament runs June 7-29 in Switzerland and Austria