Robert Huth has been named in a 30-man Germany squad for a training camp next week.
Stoke defender named in 30-man training squad
Robert Huth has been named in a 30-man Germany squad for a training camp next week.
The players will get together in Stuttgart before returning to their clubs next Thursday as manager Joachim Low continues to assess his options ahead of the World Cup.
Huth has been rewarded for a series of fine performances for Stoke and the defender will be delighted as he has not featured for Germany since they toured Asia at the end of last season.
"The 30-man squad includes players who have played a role in our team in recent months and younger players who have the potential to be in the national team beyond the 2010 World Cup," said Low.
"This group and those players who have had to decline the invitation to the meeting in Stuttgart will be observed intensely over the coming months.
"Of course the door is not closed on any other candidates for the World Cup, but somebody else is only now going to receive a chance if they perform exceptionally between now and the end of the season."
Chelsea captain Michael Ballack is not in the squad as the Blues have a match against Birmingham on Wednesday.
Lukas Podolski and Heiko Westermann are also ruled out due to injury, suggesting Low has currently narrowed down his choice for the World Cup to 33 players.
Included
In his thoughts are Hamburg's Dennis Aogo, who earns his first international call-up, as well as Bayern Munich youngster Thomas Muller, who was prevented from making his national team debut in November due to injury.
Bayer Leverkusen's Toni Kroos has also been included along with Christian Trasch of Stuttgart and Patrick Helmes, who has yet to make an appearance for Leverkusen this season after spending the last six months sidelined with torn cruciate knee ligaments.
Low has already told veteran midfielder Torsten Frings he will not be going to the World Cup.
Germany's next friendly is scheduled for 3rd March when Argentina will visit Munich.
Germany squad: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Manuel Neuer (Schalke); Dennis Aogo, Jerome Boateng (both Hamburg), Serdar Tasci, Christian Trasch (both Stuttgart), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Robert Huth (Stoke), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Marcel Schafer (Wolfsburg); Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Muller (both Bayern Munich), Toni Kroos, Simon Rolfes (both Bayer Leverkusen), Marko Marin, Aaron Hunt, Mesut Ozil (all Werder Bremen), Christian Gentner (Wolfsburg), Thomas Hitzlsperger, Sami Khedira (both Stuttgart), Piotr Trochowski, Marcell Jansen (both Hamburg); Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose (both Bayern Munich), Patrick Helmes, Stefan Kiessling (both Bayer Leverkusen), Cacau (Stuttgart).
