“It is unfortunate that this has happened because at 1400 (local time) all the German media knew. There must be a leak.” -Photo by AP

GDANSK, Poland: Germany coach Joachim Loew is said to be fuming after a “mole” in the German camp again leaked their starting line-up at Euro 2012.

Loew sprung a surprise for Friday's quarter-final by dropping Mario Gomez, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller for the Germans' 4-2 quarter-final win over Greece at Arena Gdasnk, but the news was reported earlier that afternoon.

“I can't say exactly from where this (leak) has come,” admitted Loew ahead of his team's semi-final against England or Italy in Warsaw on Thursday.

“The players talk to their agents, perhaps it comes from there.

“They phone home and talk with friends, either because they are happy or disappointed.

“I am certain it doesn't come from the players. These are other channels, but they are unidentifiable.

“It is not good when the cards are on the table so early.”

Team line-ups are normally only released just prior to kick-off, but Loew's formation was reported much earlier by several German media outlets with the news Miroslav Klose, Andre Schuerrle and Marco Reus would all start.

After the latest leak, midfielder Schuerrle revealed the national coach is fuming.

“It is certainly regrettable,” said the 21-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder.

“The head coach has spoken to us about this leak and he is, of course, far from happy.

“I am sure it is someone outside the team, I can't imagine it would be anyone inside.”

This is not the first time this has happened at Euro 2012.

It was common knowledge ahead of the opening Group B match against Portugal that Loew intended to play Gomez, rather than Klose, up front and he dropped Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker for Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels.

News also leaked prior to the final group game against Denmark that Leverkusen midfielder Lars Bender would be used at right-back for the suspended Jerome Boateng.

Dortmund-bound forward Marco Reus said any espionage is not affecting the German team.

“I do not know who the mole is, but fortunately it doesn't affect what we are doing,” he said.

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