Germany names FIFA World Cup qualifiers squad

Head coach Joachim Loew of Germany. (Getty Images)

Berlin, Aug 31 (IANS): Germany coach Joachim Loew named his 24-men squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Loew appointed his team for the qualifiers against Austria and Faroe Islands. The coach recalled Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was out of action due to an injury, as well as Mario Goetze, Sidney Sam and Max Kruse. Leverkusen’s Sam and Monchengladbach’s Kruse staged good performances during their trip to US, reports Xinhua.

“Both started well into the season and they deserved another chance,” Loew said Friday.

Meanwhile, Dortmund’s Ilkay Guendogan, Arsenal‘s Lukas Podolksi and Hamburg’s Marcell Jansen will be out of action due to injuries.

Germany sit atop the Group C standings with a five point lead.

“We have not yet qualified for the World Cup but it is our main objective to make big steps into the right direction with two victories,” added Loew.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Hamburger), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover).

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund).

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Sven Bender ( Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sidney Sam (Bayer Leverkusen), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Strikers: Mario Gomez (Florence), Miroslav Klose (Lazio Rom), Max Kruse (Borussia Moenchengladbach).