Kiessling joins German contingent

Stefan Kiessling has been called up in the absence of Miroslav Klose as Germany named their squad for the Group D games against the Republic of Ireland and the Czech Republic.

Final step
Joachim Löw's side travel to Dublin on 13 October and face the Czechs at home four days later. Should they avoid defeat against Stephen Staunton's side they will be guaranteed a place in next summer's finals in Austria and Switzerland. Werder Bremen trio Clemens Fritz, Tim Borowski and Torsten Frings are all included after recovering from injury along with VfB Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez, while the 23-year-old Kiessling, capped just once by his country, replaces injured FC Bayern München forward Klose.

Germany squad
Goalkeepers: Timo Hildebrand (Valencia CF), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal FC).

Defenders: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Marcell Jansen (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid CF).

Midfielders: Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), David Odonkor (Real Betis Balompié), Simon Rolfes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV).

Forwards: Mario Gómez (VfB Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (1. FC Köln), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Kevin Kuranyi (FC Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München).