German national team manager Joachim Low has said that it "hurt" to drop Mario Gomez from the starting lineup against Greece at Euro 2012.

The Bayern Munich striker had scored three goals in three games for Germany before the knockout rounds began, but his manager insists that the time seemed right to make a change.

"It hurt me to [drop Gomez]" he told DFB.de. "Mario scored three goals and was involved in another. Podolski too scored a goal last game but the time was right to make changes.

"It worked out well in the end. Reus performed well, so did Schurrle and Klose."

Germany are to face either England or Italy in the semi-finals.