[1]Germany duo Mesut Ozil and Miroslav Klose were on Monday ruled out of this week's friendly against Holland, leaving coach Joachim Loew without six of his probable starters.
Klose, the only out-and-out forward in Loew's original 22-man squad for Wednesday's game, is suffering from flu while Real Madrid midfielder Ozil has muscle problems.
Lazio player Klose's withdrawal means his bid to become Germany's all-time record goalscorer -- he is currently one behind Gerd Mueller's tally of 68 goals -- will have to wait.
The pair join fellow absentees Sami Khedira, Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng, Marcel Schmelzer, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos.
Loew had already called up as replacements Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Sven Bender and Frankfurt defender Sebastien Jung, and has now been forced to add Schalke midfielder Lewis Holtby as emergency cover.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/kloseapjpgcropdisplayjpg-354