On Thursday afternoon, Germany head coach Joachim Löw announced his provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt. Löw has named 30 players in his squad – the maximum allowed by FIFA in the provisional selection – including three goalkeepers.
"Considering all the injuries and absentees, the last few weeks and months haven’t been ideal for the national team," Löw admitted. "But I’m sure we’ll overcome the challenges ahead, work on solutions and find plenty of alternatives. When you select the squad, it’s about finding the right blend of experience on the one hand, and fearlessness and youth on the other."
Löw: "We have a clear idea of how to play"
Although the average age of Löw’s squad is just 24.8 years, the team is by no means inexperienced. On average, the 30 players in the squad have 34 international caps, while 19 have prior experience of playing at a World Cup or European Championship. For some, the World Cup in Brazil is their fifth major international tournament.
"The spine of the team has been together for many years," added Löw. "We’ve got a clear idea of how to play and we sailed through qualification with this philosophy. Many of our guys know what playing at a major tournament is all about. Most of the squad has plenty of international experience and I’m sure we’ll profit from that."
Khedira and Klose included
One of the more experienced players is Sami Khedira, who suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury during a friendly against Italy in November 2013. Last weekend, Khedira was named in the Real Madrid squad for the first time in nearly six months. Löw had already made it clear several weeks ago that he was prepared to ignore his usual policy of only selecting players for major tournaments if they were playing regularly and fully fit.
Provisional World Cup Squad
"Sami’s will, discipline and ambition have ensured we’re very positive about his chances," said Löw of the defensive midfielder. "He’s one of several players who are very important to the team, both on and off the pitch. We’re hopeful he’ll be able to cope with the physical demands of a World Cup."
Like Khedira, Miroslav Klose has also been in and out of his club side with injuries this year. "Miro is Germany’s record goal-scorer and he’s in with a shout of becoming the top scorer in World Cup history," said Löw. "He’s shown on plenty of occasions during his career that he’s capable of being ready when it matters. I’m certain he’ll manage to do the same on this occasion."
Neuer, Weidenfeller and Zieler in goal
As well as first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Löw has also selected Roman Weidenfeller and Ron-Robert Zieler. "We know there are many exceptional goalkeepers in Germany who are capable of playing at international level and have a great ambitions" he explained. "The standard is very high – we’re talking about marginal differences here. By naming Ron-Robert Zieler in the squad, we want to send out a clear message for the future."
In Erik Durm, Kevin Volland, Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer, Löw has called up four players who have yet to make their debuts for the full national side. "The door to the national team is always open," said the head coach. "We’ve been keeping an eye on these four players at youth level and in the Bundesliga. They’ve earned the opportunity to show what they can do at this level."
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have the largest number of players in the squad with seven – Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Philipp Lahm, Mario Götze, Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Six Borussia Dortmund stars –Roman Weidenfeller, Erik Durm, Kevin Großkreutz, Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer and Marco Reus – have also been included.
"We have a good blend in our squad"
Löw has also called up seven players who don’t currently ply their trade in Germany’s top flight – more than ever before. Per Mertesacker, Mesut Özil and Lukas Podolski of Arsenal, Chelsea’s Andre Schürrle, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira, Miroslav Klose of Lazio and Shkodran Mustafi of Sampdoria have all been selected.
Regarding the composition of his squad, Löw said: "Many of the players are used to dealing with pressure situations from playing in the Champions League with their clubs. They’re able to cope with that. Those playing abroad have also benefitted from establishing themselves in a foreign country. In general, we’ve got a good blend in the squad. I’m looking forward to working with the players and I’m convinced we’ll be well prepared."
The national team’s preparations get underway on 21 May at their training camp in South Tirol. The DFB must then submit its final 23-man squad to FIFA on 2 June (24:00 CET), a day after Germany face Cameroon in a friendly in Mönchengladbach. Löw’s side then play Armenia in a charity match in Mainz on 6 June, before flying out to Brazil from Frankfurt the day after.
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On Thursday afternoon, Germany head coach Joachim Löw announced his provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil at the DFB headquarters in Frankfurt. Löw has named 30 players in his squad – the maximum allowed by FIFA in the provisional selection – including three goalkeepers.
"Considering all the injuries and absentees, the last few weeks and months haven’t been ideal for the national team," Löw admitted. "But I’m sure we’ll overcome the challenges ahead, work on solutions and find plenty of alternatives. When you select the squad, it’s about finding the right blend of experience on the one hand, and fearlessness and youth on the other."
Löw: "We have a clear idea of how to play"
Although the average age of Löw’s squad is just 24.8 years, the team is by no means inexperienced. On average, the 30 players in the squad have 34 international caps, while 19 have prior experience of playing at a World Cup or European Championship. For some, the World Cup in Brazil is their fifth major international tournament.
"The spine of the team has been together for many years," added Löw. "We’ve got a clear idea of how to play and we sailed through qualification with this philosophy. Many of our guys know what playing at a major tournament is all about. Most of the squad has plenty of international experience and I’m sure we’ll profit from that."
Khedira and Klose included
One of the more experienced players is Sami Khedira, who suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury during a friendly against Italy in November 2013. Last weekend, Khedira was named in the Real Madrid squad for the first time in nearly six months. Löw had already made it clear several weeks ago that he was prepared to ignore his usual policy of only selecting players for major tournaments if they were playing regularly and fully fit.
Provisional World Cup Squad
"Sami’s will, discipline and ambition have ensured we’re very positive about his chances," said Löw of the defensive midfielder. "He’s one of several players who are very important to the team, both on and off the pitch. We’re hopeful he’ll be able to cope with the physical demands of a World Cup."
Like Khedira, Miroslav Klose has also been in and out of his club side with injuries this year. "Miro is Germany’s record goal-scorer and he’s in with a shout of becoming the top scorer in World Cup history," said Löw. "He’s shown on plenty of occasions during his career that he’s capable of being ready when it matters. I’m certain he’ll manage to do the same on this occasion."
Neuer, Weidenfeller and Zieler in goal
As well as first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, Löw has also selected Roman Weidenfeller and Ron-Robert Zieler. "We know there are many exceptional goalkeepers in Germany who are capable of playing at international level and have a great ambitions" he explained. "The standard is very high – we’re talking about marginal differences here. By naming Ron-Robert Zieler in the squad, we want to send out a clear message for the future."
In Erik Durm, Kevin Volland, Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer, Löw has called up four players who have yet to make their debuts for the full national side. "The door to the national team is always open," said the head coach. "We’ve been keeping an eye on these four players at youth level and in the Bundesliga. They’ve earned the opportunity to show what they can do at this level."
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have the largest number of players in the squad with seven – Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Philipp Lahm, Mario Götze, Toni Kroos, Thomas Müller and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Six Borussia Dortmund stars –Roman Weidenfeller, Erik Durm, Kevin Großkreutz, Mats Hummels, Marcel Schmelzer and Marco Reus – have also been included.
"We have a good blend in our squad"
Löw has also called up seven players who don’t currently ply their trade in Germany’s top flight – more than ever before. Per Mertesacker, Mesut Özil and Lukas Podolski of Arsenal, Chelsea’s Andre Schürrle, Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira, Miroslav Klose of Lazio and Shkodran Mustafi of Sampdoria have all been selected.
Regarding the composition of his squad, Löw said: "Many of the players are used to dealing with pressure situations from playing in the Champions League with their clubs. They’re able to cope with that. Those playing abroad have also benefitted from establishing themselves in a foreign country. In general, we’ve got a good blend in the squad. I’m looking forward to working with the players and I’m convinced we’ll be well prepared."
The national team’s preparations get underway on 21 May at their training camp in South Tirol. The DFB must then submit its final 23-man squad to FIFA on 2 June (24:00 CET), a day after Germany face Cameroon in a friendly in Mönchengladbach. Löw’s side then play Armenia in a charity match in Mainz on 6 June, before flying out to Brazil from Frankfurt the day after.
