Germany coach Joachim Loew named his final squad for the 2010 World Cup on Tuesday evening. Due to recent injuries to key players Michael Ballack, Christian Traesch, and Heiko Westermann, Loew had only one cut to make in order to trim his provisional squad down to 23 men.
Left with just two natural central midfielders in his squad, the Germany gaffer appeared set to omit a striker, but instead left out Hoffenheim right back Andreas Beck. After Westermann, a versatile defender and midfielder, was forced to withdraw with injury, there was speculation that veteran enforcer Torsten Frings would earn a call-up. However, Loew opted to trust youth and stick with members of his provisional squad.
Among those included in Loew's final squad are international newcomers Dennis Aogo, Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, and Thomas Mueller. Additionally, youngsters Mesut Ozil, Marko Marin and Sami Khedira were included, giving die Mannschaft a distinctly youthful look.
Germany, led by new captain Philipp Lahm, are set to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday in their final warm-up match before the world's greatest contest begins. Ten days later, the three-time World Cup winners begin their quest for glory against Australia.
Goalkeepers: Joerg Butt (Bayern Munich), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Jerome Boateng (Hamburger SV), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart)
Midfielders: Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Toni Kroos (Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Mesut Oezil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Forwards: Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)
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