Leipzig, Germany  - Germany coach Joachim Loew tested the fitness of his players and called for all-round improvement Tuesday ahead of World Cup qualifiers.

The tests in Leipzig come after two home defeats to England and Norway and some 18 months after the Germany squad took part in a similar fitness check.

"This is a stocktaking a year before the World Cup in South Africa," Loew said of the tests which among other things included sprint, stamina and reaction checks.

"We want to see where players need to work in physical areas. We have to work where we see the need. We can't stay still."

Loew has highlighted perceived deficiencies in the German game, saying teams in England and Spain were playing faster football than in the Bundesliga.

It has led to differences with club coaches who met Loew in Dusseldorf on Monday for an annual get-together.

Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness was quoted in Tuesday's Muenchner Merkur newspaper as saying that in the past Germany were still able to beat England although football was played faster there.

"What bothers me about this whole discussion is that whenever games against Liechtenstein or Andorra are coming up the responsible gentlemen from the German football federation want to show the Bundesliga how to play football," he said.

"They should come to visit us in the clubs and show proof of what we are doing wrong. Then we can gladly talk about it."

Loew meanwhile said Germany, beaten 2-1 by England in Berlin in November and 1-0 by Norway in Dusseldorf last month, also needed to improve in "other areas" and said there would be more "tactical and technical training sessions."

Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said: "We want to start playing attractive football again with quick passing and dribbling. We can't continue the trend of the last few games."

Goalkeeper Rene Adler, defender Per Mertesacker and midfielder Piotr Trochowski did not take part in Tuesday's tests by the 21-man squad.

Mertesacker should recover from a bruised foot for Saturday's Group 4 game against Liechtenstein in Leipzig.

Adler (bruised elbow) and Trochowski (knee injury) are not expected to train until Thursday but could also be fit for Saturday.

The Germans then travel to Cardiff to meet Wales four days later. Germany lead the group on 10 points, four more than Russia who have a game in hand. (dpa)