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Lahm and Podolski excluded from Germany squad for Argentina friendly
Aug 9, 2012 3:45:00 PM
The experienced pair are among those missing out as Joachim Low has announced his squad for Die Mannschaft's first match since their semi-final defeat to Italy at Euro 2012
Germany coach Joachim Low has chosen to rest a number of high-profile players after naming his 19-man squad for the friendly against Argentina on August 15.
Captain Philipp Lahm misses out due to the impending birth of his child, while Arsenal pair Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker are omitted to help them prepare for Arsenal’s Premier League opener against Sunderland on August 18.
“Philipp [Lahm] wanted to play, but after speaking to him on the phone, I made the decision to leave him to his private life,” Low told the German Football Association’s official website.
“Three days after the international match in Frankfurt, the Premier League season starts in England, so it's important that Per [Mertesacker], who was injured for a long time, and Lukas [Podolski], who is fighting for a regular place in the team, are able to prepare for the tasks ahead with their club.”
Hoffenheim goalkeeper Tim Wiese has also been cut, with his international future now in serious doubt as Germany look to proceed with a younger understudy to current No. 1, Manuel Neuer.
"Hansi Flick and I had a long conversation with Tim [Wiese] in Hoffenheim, and we have informed him that we are planning to use a younger goalkeeper for World Cup qualifying," revealed goalkeeping coach Andreas Klope.
Bayern Munich pair Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Gomez have also been excluded due to injury, with Low naming only one recognized striker in his squad in the form of Lazio’s Miroslav Klose.
Full Squad:
| Name | Club |
| Goalkeepers: | |
| Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich |
| Ron-Robert Zieler | Hannover |
| Defenders: | |
| Lars Bender | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Holger Badstuber | Bayern Munich |
| Jerome Boateng | Bayern Munich |
| Benedikt Howedes | Schalke |
| Mats Hummels | Borussia Dortmund |
| Marcel Schmelzer | Borussia Dortmund |
| Midfielders | |
| Sven Bender | Borussia Dortmund |
| Julian Draxler |
Schalke |
| Mario Gotze | Borussia Dortmund |
| Ilkay Gundogan | Borussia Dortmund |
| Sami Khedira | Real Madrid |
| Toni Kroos | Bayern Munich |
| Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich |
| Mesut Ozil | Real Madrid |
| Marco Reus |
Borussia Dortmund |
| Andre Schurrle | Bayer Leverkusen |
| Attackers | |
| Miroslav Klose | Lazio |
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