The German team played its last game of 2011 on Tuesday in a friendly against the Netherlands, and coach Joachim Löw can send the team home for the year with a smile on his face.

“Holland was a custom-made opponent,” Löw said in the post-game press conference. “Holland had no chance.”

The team’s 3-0 win in Hamburg was more than just a pride-boosting dressing down of the World Cup runners-up. It was a final confirmation that Löw’s Germany is running like a well-oiled machine heading into next summer’s European Championship.

Coach Joachim Löw has insisted his side have nothing to fear ahead of Tuesday’s friendly against World Cup finalists the Netherlands in Hamburg as they look to finish 2011 in style.

After winning all 10 of their Euro 2012 qualifiers and humbling Brazil in an August friendly, Löw is looking for Germany’s first win over the Dutch since 1996 in what will be his 75th international as national team coach.

Germany survived a scare on Friday as the guests had to come from 3-1 down to seal a 3-3 draw with Euro 2012 co-hosts the Ukraine in a thrilling friendly.

Germany was without a few of its usual players. Captain Philipp Lahm was given the night off, with his captain’s band being passed on to Mario Gomez. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, normally a leading playmaker, was out with a broken collarbone.

The team’s stalwart goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, was also not in the lineup, being replaced by Hanover’s 22-year-old keeper, Ron-Robert Zieler, who made his national team debut.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm will be rested for the friendly games in Ukraine (November, 11th) and against Netherlands in Hamburg (November, 15th) later this month after a busy year for club and country, coach Joachim Löw said on Friday.

Löw said Bayern München’s Lahm had played a lot of 90-minute games and deserved a break. “That is why he gets a rest and I get the chance to test alternatives for the left back position,” Löw said in a statement.

Germany qualified for the Euro 2012 finals in style after winning all 10 of their qualifiers. Löw also gave Bayern München’s keeper Manuel Neuer a one-game break and will use substitutes Tim Wiese and Ron-Robert Zieler against Ukraine.

First choice keeper Neuer will be back in the fold against the Dutch four days later. “We want to finish this successful year on a positive note,” Löw said. “It is also important to play in Ukraine and get experience ahead of the tournament next year.”

Coach Joachim Löw said Germany’s last-minute 2-2 friendly draw with Poland has given his players a wake-up call as defensive problems loomed again, while the hosts were left to rue the win that got away.

A 94th-minute goal from Brazil-born striker Cacau spared Germany’s blushes in Gdansk on Tuesday and denied Poland a historic first win over the Germans at the 17th attempt after the hosts took a dramatic 2-1 lead in the 91st minute.

Watch Mueller set up Cacau’s last-gasp equalizer that came just before the final whistle!

A young German side stole a late equalizer against an energetic Poland in an international soccer friendly on Tuesday night to deliver a 2-2 result a avoid a first-ever defeat to their eastern neighbors.

Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland looked to have secured a first win over Germany at the 17th attempt when midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski – known as Kuba for short – converted a penalty in the 91st minute to make it 2-1.

But in a dramatic finale, German blushes were spared when second-half replacement Thomas Mueller fired in a cross with time almost up to allow Cacau to equalise on 94 minutes as Germany again came from behind.

Coach Joachim Löw is set to make seven changes to his side for Tuesday’s friendly against Poland in Gdansk, with Mesut Özil, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Manuel Neuer among those being rested.

Having all played in the 6-2 victory over Austria on Friday night which confirmed Germany’s place at Euro 2012, none of the trio made the trip to Poland, while defender Benedikt Hoewedes was also left behind with a groin strain.

“We have ready-made replacements for every position,” said Löw, who also admitted his delight at being able to give fringe players a chance after Germany secured their place at the Euro 2012 finals.