No Neuer, Kroos or Muller in Germany squad for EURO 2016 qualifier

Joachim Low

Berlin, May 26 (IANS)

Germany head coach Joachim Low selected midfielder Patrick Herrmann for the upcoming internationals against the United States and Gibraltar after revealing his 20-man football squad on Tuesday.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup winners encounter the US in a friendly in Cologne on June 10 before they clash Gibraltar for the EURO 2016 qualifiers in Faro three days later, reports Xinhua.

VfB Stuttgart's Antonio Rudiger and Borussia Monchengladbach's Patrick Herrmann return into the squad. Defender Antonio Rudiger already made five appearances for the Germany, his last in November 2014 against Spain, meanwhile midfielder Herrmann earned his first call up in March 2013 but was unable to make his debut against Kazakhstan.

Germany coach Low gives the world champions, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielder Toni Kroos and forward Thomas Muller a break.

“I give Thomas and Toni a break as I could always count on them in the past. They have done a lot for the national team. Therefore, they deserved a break.”

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer didn't make it into the squad for medical reasons. “Our team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt has informed me that Manuel can't train without pain. The long season left its marks.”

Nevertheless, Germany's 20-man squad consists of 13 FIFA world champions who snatched the title in Brazil.

The squad:

Goalkeeper: Roman Weidenfeller, Ron-Robert Zieler

Defenders: Jerome Boateng, Erik Durm, Jonas Hector, Mats Hummels, Shkodran Mustafi, Antonio Rudiger, Sebastian Rudy

Midfielders: Karim Bellarabi, Ilkay Gundogan, Patrick Herrmann, Sami Khedira, Christoph Kramer, Mesut Ozil, Lukas Podolski, Andre Schurrle, Bastian Schweinsteiger

Forwards: Mario Gozte, Max Kruse