Argentina won 3-1 in Wednesday's international friendly in Frankurt but Loew said Germany matched the South Americans until Zieler received a red card in the 30th minute.

Zieler was sent off after he brought down Jose Sosa in the penalty area and while his replacement Marc-Andre ter Stegen saved Lionel Messi's effort from the spot, Germany could not handle the movement of Argentina with one less player.

"We had 20, 25 very good minutes but the red card took us by surprise and then also the goal," Loew told the German FA's website.

"After that it was difficult for us against world-class people like Messi, (Gonzalo) Higuain or (Angel) Di Maria.

"We made some tactical errors, but the players gave their all.

"It is difficult to disrupt the opponent when you are outnumbered. In the first 20 minutes, we did it, but not later."

Argentina's head-coach Alejandro Sabella admitted after the game that Zieler's red card had swung the momentum of the match back to his side.

"At that moment the Germans were getting the upper hand and that turned things around," Sabella said.

"But they never gave up hope of getting back into it."