Brothers Lars and Sven Bender became the first twins to start for Germany in 39 years when they pair up to play the USA in friendly in Washington DC. Borussia Dortmund's Sven and Bayer Leverkusen's Lars, 24, started as defensive midfielder and right-back respectively to finish the two-match USA tour after Wednesday's 4-2 win over Ecuador.
The last twins to start for Germany were Schalke 04 pair Erwin and Helmut Kremers, who played together in West Germany's 5-0 win over Hungary, with winger Erwin scoring, in April 1974. The Bender brothers have already played together for Germany before - they both came on for the last 12 minutes of the 5-3 friendly defeat to Switzerland last year - but this is the first time they will start.
Löw with weakened squad in the USA
With Germany coach Joachim Löw having taken a weakened squad to America, shorn of his top stars from Dortmund, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the twins have their chance to impress. Both see themselves as defensive midfielders and Lars will play out of position in defence as Loew looks at his options ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Lars has had more success in the Germany shirt, scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 Euro 2012 group win over Denmark, but Sven has won two Bundesliga titles and played in a Champions League final.
"There is no hate or envy between us," said Lars, with Sven adding: "Neither of us begrudge the other anything, it has always been like that. Lars scored twice in the win over Ecuador in Boca Raton, Florida, leaving him with three goals in 13 appearances, while injury and illness means Sven has played only three times for Germany.
Völler: "I'm glad I am no longer national coach and have to choose"
Apart from Lars' prowess in front of goal, there is little to choose between the tough-tacking identical twin brothers. "I'm glad I am no longer national coach and have to choose between one of the two brothers," quipped Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Völler: "I wouldn't know what the big difference is between them."
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Brothers Lars and Sven Bender became the first twins to start for Germany in 39 years when they pair up to play the USA in friendly in Washington DC. Borussia Dortmund's Sven and Bayer Leverkusen's Lars, 24, started as defensive midfielder and right-back respectively to finish the two-match USA tour after Wednesday's 4-2 win over Ecuador.
The last twins to start for Germany were Schalke 04 pair Erwin and Helmut Kremers, who played together in West Germany's 5-0 win over Hungary, with winger Erwin scoring, in April 1974. The Bender brothers have already played together for Germany before - they both came on for the last 12 minutes of the 5-3 friendly defeat to Switzerland last year - but this is the first time they will start.
Löw with weakened squad in the USA
With Germany coach Joachim Löw having taken a weakened squad to America, shorn of his top stars from Dortmund, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the twins have their chance to impress. Both see themselves as defensive midfielders and Lars will play out of position in defence as Loew looks at his options ahead of the 2014 World Cup.
Lars has had more success in the Germany shirt, scoring the winning goal in the 2-1 Euro 2012 group win over Denmark, but Sven has won two Bundesliga titles and played in a Champions League final.
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"There is no hate or envy between us," said Lars, with Sven adding: "Neither of us begrudge the other anything, it has always been like that. Lars scored twice in the win over Ecuador in Boca Raton, Florida, leaving him with three goals in 13 appearances, while injury and illness means Sven has played only three times for Germany.
Völler: "I'm glad I am no longer national coach and have to choose"
Apart from Lars' prowess in front of goal, there is little to choose between the tough-tacking identical twin brothers. "I'm glad I am no longer national coach and have to choose between one of the two brothers," quipped Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director Rudi Völler: "I wouldn't know what the big difference is between them."
