San Marino vs Germany - Low not expecting record Germany score in San Marino

Germany coach Joachim Low is not concerned about running up a record score when they meet San Marino in their World Cup qualifier on Friday.

The world champions have won their opening three games in Group C and are expected to sweep aside a San Marino outfit that has lost its previous 36 World Cup qualifiers and who have not taken a point at home in the competition since 1993.

Low could hardly contemplate that run ending in Serravalle but he does expect a sterner test than history would indicate.

San Marino have lost their three qualifiers in the group, but have been within striking distance in each of those until late in the game - most recently when they were level 1-1 against Norway in Oslo last month with 13 minutes to play.

"Those times (of heavy scoring) have gone," Low said at a press conference on Thursday.

"You could see how San Marino have kept games at 0-0 for a long time in recent games.

"They have well-schooled players so a new goalscoring record is not our objective."

Low is without first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, with Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen set to start on Friday night. Bernd Leno is then slated to play in a friendly against Italy next week.

Low confirmed that Ilkay Gundogan and Mario Gomez would both start in San Marino, adding that he has not yet decided which other eight players will file out with the team at the Olympic Stadium.

"We've got quite a few players missing but that shouldn't play a role," he said.

"We've got young players here and a good team. Our players know what we want and our game will not be affected (by the absentees).

"About 10 or 12 years ago, we did have problems picking our team because many of our young players were not getting a regular game at their clubs, but this attitude has changed a lot.

"At the end of the day, though, we're looking to find the best 23 players to take to the World Cup."

Three players could make debuts on Friday, with Serge Gnabry, Benjamin Henrichs and Yannick Gerhardt all called up to the senior squad for the first time.

If any of them do play, Juventus midfielder Sami Khedira would be happy to show them the way.

"You can see how much incredible quality they have got," Khedira said.

"I don't have to be their guide, but it is important for me to set them an example on the field."

He could do that wearing the captain's armband in place of the injured Neuer.

"I don't know if I will lead the team out as captain, but for me personally it's not so decisive," he said.

Germany lead the group by two points from Azerbaijan, who meet third-placed Northern Ireland in Belfast on Friday.