Cardiff, Wales - Germany coach Joachim Loew will keep faith with luckless striker Mario Gomez against a Wales side he believes will have to attack in a Group 4 World Cup qualifier on Wednesday.

The fact that Wales were beaten 2-0 at home by Finland on Saturday means John Toshack's side will have to go for victory in the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Loew believes.

That could give the German side more room up front - and might help Gomez in his search for a goal - as they seek the three points which will put them even closer to World Cup qualification.

Germany are still four points clear of Russia with 13 points from five games. Russia, who have a game in hand, visit Liechtenstein on Wednesday.

Finland, who are not in action, are third in the group on seven points from four games, with Wales now struggling on six from five games.

Germany's 4-0 victory over Liechtenstein in Leipzig on Saturday was workmanlike but did not bring the rush of goals the Germans had experienced in their three previous meetings, which garnered 23.

And once again absent from the scorers' list was VfB Stuttgart striker Gomez who earned jeers and whistles from home fans after another game without hitting the target for Germany.

The 23-year-old has 14 goals in the Bundesliga but has gone more than a year - 643 playing minutes - without scoring for the national side.

"Expectations of me are high, but I was nevertheless disappointed to be jeered so quickly. I hadn't experienced this before and it took me by surprise," Gomez said.

Loew said Gomez would start again in what is expected to be a largely unchanged side. Praising the striker for his effort, he said he could not understand the fans' reaction.

"Mario needs the public's support in a phase like this," he said.

Germany beat Wales 1-0 in October, and Loew wants all three points again against a side whose chances of qualifying have now all but faded following the defeat to Finland.

Loew would normally be expecting defensive opponents but says they will now have to play a more attacking game

"They will be out to show a reaction against us. If they want to have any chance at all they will have to beat us," he said.

The Welsh were despondent after Saturday's defeat, and Toshack will have to lift the spirits of a young team he says are not ready to qualify for major international tournaments.

"This current crop isn't ready," he said.

"It hurts and it's frustrating but that's the truth of it. You look at the young lads, they come through and then some of them hit the brick wall."

However defender James Collins says no one should think about giving up the campaign yet.

"Maybe (we need) a change of attitude to what we're trying to do," he said.

"Everyone is technically good on the ball and we are knocking it about lovely but we have not got that final cutting edge."

Despite the defeat to Finland, the West Ham defender said the team must still believe in its chances.

"You never say never. As long as the points are still there you're not going to say you're not going to qualify but it's a massive dent to us (losing against Finland)," he said. (dpa)