Marco Reus gave the hosts the lead in Kaiserslautern, but James Troisi levelled before the interval.

Mile Jedinak stunned the Fritz-Walter Stadion by putting Australia in front early in the second half and the guests had chances to increase their lead before Podolski struck inside the final 10 minutes to salvage Germany a draw.

Holger Badstuber and Ilkay Gundogan were making their first appearances for Germany after long injury absences and they both had good chances to give the hosts the lead early on, but after the former’s shot was blocked, the latter missed the target on the rebound.

Reus found the back of the net soon after, but the offside flag was raised.

He was able to celebrate soon after, though, as he stretched to meet Sami Khedira’s low pass from the left and divert the ball in past Mathew Ryan.

All seemed to be going according to plan for Germany, but Australia threatened several times on the break with Mathew Leckie of German second-division side Ingolstadt twice testing Ron-Robert Zieler.

Australia were looking strong down the left and that is where their equaliser came from with Nathan Burns’ cross headed in from close range by Troisi.

Worse was to follow just after the break for Germany when Jedinak curled a free-kick around the wall and into the top right-hand corner.

Australia then tried to add a third with Troisi wasting a good counter-attacking opportunity and Leckie heading against the right-hand post.

Germany tried to respond, but their attacking play was lacking invention as their defence showed recurring signs of fallibility.

It was left for their most experienced player Podolski, who marked his international debut in the same stadium as a replacement for Fredi Bobic over a decade ago, to salvage a draw for the hosts.

The Inter Milan forward found himself in the right place at the right time to tuck the ball in from eight yards and earn Germany a draw.