Germany's Hummels a surprise starter versus Poland

PARIS: Germany coach Joachim Loew surprisingly picked Mats Hummels at centre back instead of Shkodran Mustafi for his side's second Group C game against Poland on Thursday at Stade de France.

Loew, who had been expected to give Hummels more time to rest a thigh injury, made no other changes to his starting line-up for the world champions' opening 2-0 win over Ukraine.

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, who came on as a substitute to score Germany's second goal against Ukraine, starts on the bench again.

Poland's first-choice goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny was ruled out by the thigh injury he sustained in his side's 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland.

His place is taken by Lukasz Fabianski but Szczesny is expected to return for his team's final group game against Ukraine.

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