Germany mixes 'experience, carefreeness and freshness'

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, May 8, 2014

[WORLD CUP 2014] Germany's 30-player short list for the 2014 World Cup is loaded with international stars like Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Goetze, and Mesut Ozil, but Coach Joachim Loew was not afraid to inject youth into the team, picking a pair of Schalke 04 teenagers Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer.

They are among six uncapped players in the Germany 30-player roster along with Borussia Dortmund's Erik Durm, Augsburg's Andre Hahn, Sampdoria's Shkodran Mustafi and Hoffenheim's Kevin Volland, one of only two forwards on the short list.

"When picking the squad it was important for us to have the right mix of experience, carefreeness and freshness," Loew said. "Form and fitness are also central criteria. Given the injuries and absences in the past few months it has not been an ideal situation for the national team. But we will rise to the challenges and we will find solutions and alternatives."

World Cup 2014 Squads:
Bosnia-Herzegovina (24)
Brazil (23)
Honduras (23)
Nigeria (30)
South Korea (23)

Regarding Germany's title hopes, the big news was that Loew included Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira, who has returned to action after tearing cruciate knee ligaments last year.

"We are confident we can help him return to top form in time for the tournament," said Loew.

World Cup 2014: Warmup Schedule

Germany will face Poland in a friendly on Tuesday without players from Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, which are playing in the German Cup final. Loew plans to take 25 or 26 players for a training camp in Italy on May 21. It will later play Cameroon and Armenia in friendlies.

Germany Roster (30 players):
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96).
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal/ENG), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria/ITA), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke 04), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal/ENG), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea/ENG), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio/ITA), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim).