Germany Announces 2014 World Cup Squad, Veteran Mario Gomez Left Out
Focus on young players characteristic of German World Cup squads.
Germany coach Joachim Löew unveiled his 30-man provisional selection for the upcoming FIFA World Cup Finals in Brazil.
Notably absent in the 30-man pre-World Cup line-up is veteran striker Mario Gomez. At 33, Gomez was a long shot especially after playing only nine league games for Fiorentina in the regular season and scoring only three goals.
Gomez' record with Germany is impressive however with 25 goals in 59 games. The former Bayern Munich star was a steady fixture in the previous World Cup where Germany reached the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, another veteran is given another shot at World Cup glory. 35-year-old Miroslav Klose was named in the squad. Klose needs just one more World Cup goal to equal the all-time record of 15 set by Brazilian Ronaldo.
Germany favoured young players in their provisional 30-man squad, calling up the talented Schalke teenagers Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer
Löew has tried and tested this strategy in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa when he announced Germany's youngest World Cup squad in 76 years and they went on to finish third.
30-man squad:
Goalkeepers (3): Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover)
Defenders (10): Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal/ENG), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria/ITA), Marcel Schmelzer (Dortmund).
Midfielders (15): Lars Bender (Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Friburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid/ESP), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal/ENG), Marco Reus (Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea/ENG), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Forwards (2): Miroslav Klose (Lazio/ITA), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim)
As expected, German Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich provide the most players with seven, closely followed by Borussia Dortmund, second in the league with five players.
Löew will unveil his final squad of 23 on June 2, ahead of the June 13-July 13 tournament.