Turkey the right move for Germany's Gomez, Podolski

Speaking to reporters in Munich on Tuesday, Mario Gomez said that after having been out of the national team for more than a year, often due to injuries, he had been only too happy to answer coach Joachim Löw's call last week.

"I am delighted to be back here," the 30-year-old striker said during the national team's press conference, ahead of Germany's friendlies against France and the Netherlands. "Every game is important for me because I am happy to play in every game," he added.

His form since his transfer to Besiktas from Fiorentina in the summer helped make up Löw's mind to recall him to the national side - having scored eight goals in his first 10 games for the Istanbul club. Gomez said his move from Italy, where he had often been plagued by injury woes, was key to his resurgence.

"I was in a phase where such a decision was not easy. I knew the next decision had to fit," he said. "The move to Turkey may have been a surprise for some but for me it was the right one. It may not be the toughest of leagues but for me it was important to play, injury-free. I don't think I ever played three matches in a row, one every three days, at my time in Fiorentina."

Gomez has 25 goals in 60 caps for the national team, but often found himself in the shadow of Miroslav Klose, and then became a victim of Löw's tactics of not using an out-and-out striker.

Poldi in form at Galatasaray

Also appearing at the presser was Lukas Podolski, who, like Gomez, moved to Turkey in the summer - with the former Cologne winger joining Galatasaray from Inter, where he had been on loan from Arsenal.

Podolski, who currently is the senior Germany player with 48 goals in 126 appearances may not be quite as hot as Gomez, but he is also off to a good start to with five goals in 11 games for Galatasaray this season.

"Things are going well, I am playing on a regular basis. I hope it continues like this over the next months. The games give me fitness and power," Podolski said.

The two veterans are part of the 25-man squad that coach Löw has called up for their final friendlies of the year. On the other end of the age and experience scale, the squad also includes two first-timers: Kevin Trapp and Leroy Sané.

Germany round this year's schedule by facing Euro 2016 hosts France in Paris on Friday before taking on the Netherlands in Hannover next Tuesday.