FIFA World Cup final: Germany's Sami Khedira replaced after warming up injury

Germany's players run during warm-up before the World Cup final soccer match between Germany and Argentina at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Sunday.

German coach Joachim Loew was forced to make a last-minute change to his team after Sami Khedira suffered calf problems while warming up for Sunday’s World Cup final against Argentina.

The Real Madrid midfielder was replaced by Christoph Kramer, the German football federation said.

The change means the Borussia Moenchengladbach player was making his first competitive appearance from the start with the German jersey.

Loew otherwise named an unchanged starting eleven, showing faith in the team that thrashed Brazil in the semi-final.

Mats Hummels has overcome a slight case of tendinitis to join Benedikt Hoewedes, Jerome Boateng and Philipp Lahm in front of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

In the midfield, Kramer and Bastian Schweinsteiger will protect the defensive quartet, with Thomas Mueller, Mesut Oezil and Toni Kroos supporting lone striker Mirolsav Klose.

Andre Schuerrle remains on the bench after scoring three goals as a substitute during the knock-out stage.