2014 World Cup: Ghana's opponents Germany name injury-prone Khedira in squad, Mario Gomez axed

Published on: 08 May 2014
2014 World Cup: Ghana's opponents Germany name injury-prone Khedira in squad, Mario Gomez axed
Sami Khedira has been named in Germany's squad despite his injury problems

Ghana's group opponents Germany have named their preliminary squad of 30 players for the World Cup finals in Brazil, with Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez the biggest name to miss the cut.

Black Stars Group G opponents named Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira even though he is yet to recover from an injury that has kept him out of action for about five months.

Coach Joachim Loew made several surprise inclusions in his preliminary squad on Thursday, with relatively unknown players such as Genoa defender Shkodran Mustafi, Freiburg midfielder Matthias Ginter and Dortmund defender Erik Durm being named in the squad.

The Germans named just three strikers in the squad showing that they will be concentrating heavily on their midfield during the competition.

Fiorentina striker Gomez missed out due to his persistent injury problems, while there was also no place for Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and former Germany No. 1 Rene Adler.

Loew said he made an exception in selecting midfielder Sami Khedira, who is yet to play for Real Madrid since having knee surgery last November.

Loew has until May 13 to submit a squad of no more than 30 players to FIFA, with the deadline for the final 23-man squad on June 2.

Low will reduce his squad to "25 to 26 players" after the DFB-Pokal final and a friendly against Poland next week before naming his final 23-man squad at the end of the month.

"We've made these decisions for our 30 players with total conviction," said Low.

"It was a clear 'yes' for each of these players.

"Of course we will have to send a few players home still and that will lead to individual disappointment, but those who are included should know that they are part of the German elite."

Germany squad:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover).

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm, Kevin Grosskreutz (both Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund).

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg).

Forwards: Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich).

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