Draxler handed surprise Germany call-up
Reuters - Monday 07 May 2012, 11:27
Schalke 04's teenage midfielder
Julian Draxler won a surprise call-up on Monday to Germany's
preliminary 27-man squad for Euro 2012 next month.
The uncapped 19-year-old made his Bundesliga debut just over
a year ago and has been in sparkling form this season, helping
Schalke clinch a third-place finish.
Coach Joachim Low said the final squad would be announced
later this month, adding there would be some changes.
Germany's players begin their preparations on Friday without
several key men.
The players from Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich will be
absent, because of Saturday's German Cup final, together with
Real Madrid pair Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira.
Bayern's players will not join up with the Euro 2012 squad
until after the Champions League final against Chelsea to be
held on May 19.
Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker, who has been out since
February due to ankle surgery, is expected to be fit for the
pre-tournament training camp.
"He will be challenged by us in training," Low told
reporters. "We start preparations on Friday with only some of
our players but we just have to try our best to get the most out
of it."
Germany have been drawn in Group B in Ukraine and Poland
along with Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter
Stegen (Borussia Monchengladbach), Tim Wiese (Hoffenheim),
Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96).
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Holger Badstuber
(Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke 04), Philipp Lahm
(Bayern Munich), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcel
Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal).
Midfielders: Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Mesut
Ozil (Real Madrid), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Thomas Muller
(Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Toni Kroos (Bayern
Munich), Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan
(Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Sven
Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen),
Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Marco Reus (Borussia
Monchengladbach).
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose
(Lazio), Cacau (VfB Stuttgart).