Thoughts on Germany v Cameroon

The 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Mönchengladbach on Sunday was a disappointing start to Germany's pair of pre-World Cup friendlies. With fitness and form the key concerns for the Germans heading into Brazil, here are the winners and losers from coach Joachim Löw's latest experiment:

Sami Khedira, he's back: Sami Khedira's truncated performance in the Champions League final was, by all accounts, poor. He didn't look fit, his touch was rusty and he gave the ball away far too often. But against Cameroon, it was nearly the Khedira of old. He wasn't quite 100 percent, but he was a completely different player to the one we saw last month in Lisbon. When Germany play such a fluid formation as they did against Cameroon, a midfield destroyer who can cover ground, do the dirty work and fill in the gaps is key to their success. Khedira did that tonight, and Germany fans should be elated to have him back in the squad.

Erik Durm is more than capable at left back: At Borussia Dortmund and now for Germany, Erik Durm continues to take advantage of his opportunites when regular left back Marcel Schmelzer is out injured. The 21-year-old was a solid stand-in at left back on his full international debut. There's no longer any question about whether he'll be in the squad, just whether Löw decides to start him.

Mario Götze, Germany's 'false nine' needs practice: With Klose on the bench, Mario Götze looked up for the challenge as Germany's most-advanced player. He created chances early and his runs to split the defense caused Cameroon havoc at the back. But he disappeared as the game wore on, and Germany looked completely flat by the time he left the match on the hour mark. Thomas Müller was much more efficient in the striker role after Götze's departure - perhaps he's in line for another World Cup Golden Boot?

Mesut Özil, where was he? Özil drifted all over the midfield for Germany against Cameroon, but his positive, or even noticable, contributions were few and far between. He never clicked with the false nine Mario Götze, or Germany's main attacking supply line - wingers Thomas Müller and Marco Reus. He simply vanished in the match, and the whistles he received from the fans when he departed the match are indictative of a long-term problem for Germany - Mesut Özil's form is slipping.

Jerome Boateng, who raises questions at right back: If Philipp Lahm is to play central midfield at the World Cup, Germany have a whole new can of worms to tackle at right back. Jerome Boateng is hardly a disaster option - he did well to set up Germany's first goal - but he struggled to deal with Eric Choupo-Moting's speed and skill on the ball against Cameroon. Going up against a talented Mainz winger is one thing, but in Brazil, that man will be Cristiano Ronaldo.