Germany: Loew names squad for next assignments

German national team coach Joachim Loew has announced Germany's squad for the upcoming assignments at the end of May and early June. Again missing will be former captain Michael Ballack from the squad of 23 players for the friendly against Uruguay on May 29 in Hoffenheim and the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Austria on June 3 and Azerbaijan on June 7.

About the decision Joachim Loew said, "Michael has not been nominated for the three upcoming internationals. The decision has been discussed with him. I have been in constant touch with him over the last few weeks."

Borussia Moenchengladbach's in-form 21 year old Marco Reus has received another call-up and after having to return from his first two call-ups due to injuries hopefully he will be third-time lucky and make his debut for Germany. Meanwhile Ballack team mate Simon Rolfes returns to the team as a potential back-up to Real Madrid's midfielder Sami Khedira, who injured himself in the Spanish Cup final.

Also missing due to injury is Manchester City's Jerome Boateng, while Per Mertesacker (SV Werder Bremen) and Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV) have been given a break by Loew to recover from the tough season plus on and off injuries.


GERMANY

Goalkeepers
Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04), Rene Adler (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Tim Wiese (SV Werder Bremen)

Defenders
Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern Munich), Arne Friedrich (VfL Wolfsburg), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern Munich), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Christian Traesch (VfB Stuttgart)

Midfielders
Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Mario Goetze (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (FC Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (FC Bayern Munich), Mesut Oezil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (1.FC Cologne), Marco Reus (VfL Borussia Moenchengladbach), Simon Rolfes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern Munich)

Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern Munich), André Schuerrle (FSV Mainz 05)

Officials
Joachim Loew (Coach), Hansi Flick (Assistant Coach), Andreas Koepke (Goalkeeping Coach), Oliver Bierhoff (Manager)