Germany name squad for Brazil friendly

Germany coach Joachim Loew today announced his 22 player squad for the high profile international friendly against Brazil on August 10 at the Mercedes Benz Arena.

Loew decided not to call-up Real Madrid duo Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira as their club has just toured North America and Asia to give them more time with their club in pre-season. Leverkusen goalkeeper Rene Adler is missing due to injury while Per Mertesacker has just returned from injury, so he is being rested.

Meanwhile new Dortmund signing Ilkay Gündogan is getting his first call-up for the German senior national team, while Mönchengladbach's Marco Reus hopes to finally make his debut on his fourth call-up after having to return from his first three due to injuries.

It will be a very special match for Brazilian-born Germany striker Cacau to play against the country of his birth in Stuttgart, the city which he plays for and calls home.

The match could have been Michael Ballack's farewell match, but the former Germany captain had a spat with coach Loew and turned down the offer from the German FA (DFB) to lead Germany for one last time.


GERMANY

Goalkeepers
Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (SV Werder Bremen)

Defenders
Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (FC Bayern Munich), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern Munich), Christian Träsch (VfL Wolfsburg)

Midfielders
Simon Rolfes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund), Toni Kroos (FC Bayern Munich), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (1. FC Cologne), Marco Reus (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Andre Schürrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern Munich)

Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio Roma), Cacau (VfB Stuttgart)