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Löw keeps Germany options open

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

There are no new names in Joachim Löw's Germany squad to take on France next week, but the coach said: "That does not mean that the door is closed to anyone else."

Joachim Löw is not actively seeking any new players for Germany
Joachim Löw is not actively seeking any new players for Germany ©Getty Images

Cacau and Dennis Aogo are the only less familiar names in Joachim Löw's Germany selection for next Wednesday's friendly against France in Bremen.

Regular starters Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski, Per Mertesacker and Mario Götze are all sidelined by injury, but seem certain of a UEFA EURO 2012 squad place if fit. Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart forward Cacau and Hamburger SV left-back Aogo have missed recent call-ups, though Löw still rates them, saying of Cacau: "He is having problems at VfB yet has always performed for the national team."

Löw has said in recent weeks that he is unlikely to bring in any new players before the finals, but added: "While the players we have selected to play France have not disappointed in the past, that does not mean the door is closed to anyone else." Germany play Switzerland in Basel on 26 May and Israel in Leipzig on 1 June before heading to UEFA EURO 2012, where they will meet Portugal, the Netherlands and Denmark in Group B.

Germany squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München), Tim Wiese (SV Werder Bremen).

Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburger SV), Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern München), Jerome Boateng (FC Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Christian Träsch (VFB Stuttgart).

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid CF), Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid CF), Marco Reus (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Simon Rolfes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), André Schürrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).

Forwards: Cacau (VfB Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München), Miroslav Klose (S.S. Lazio).

*Philipp Lahm and Sven Bender have withdrawn.

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