Ozil back in Germany squad
Reuters - Friday 26 August 2011, 10:44
BERLIN - Real Madrid playmaker Mesut Ozil
has returned to the Germany squad ahead of their Euro 2012
qualifier against Austria next week after missing the friendly
3-2 win over Brazil earlier in August.
Ozil, who had not been called up for that match to give the
22-year-old some rest following a string of club commitments,
will return as Germany look to seal their ticket for the
tournament in Poland and Ukraine next year.
"Our focus is now exclusively on the Austria match," said
coach Joachim Low, with Germany top of Group A on 21 points
following seven wins from seven games. Victory against Austria
would see them through with two games to spare.
"Obviously our starting position is very good but we are not
through yet. So we want to make sure we are through with a win
against Austria so as to start planning for the Euros."
Germany also play Poland in a friendly on September 6.
Ozil, however, will be without his Real team-mate Sami
Khedira, who is still recovering from an adductor muscle injury
and was ruled out on Friday after talks between team doctors and
Real Madrid officials, the German federation said.
Khedira also missed the Brazil game.
Defender Per Mertesacker is making a comeback after playing
his last international back in March and having recovered after
a long injury break.
"I am glad that Per is back fit and can be with us," said
Low of the Werder Bremen central defender, who has won 75 caps.
The only newcomer is goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler, who
replaces injured Rene Adler as the third choice behind Manuel
Neuer and Tim Wiese.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder
Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96);
Defenders: Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm, Jerome Boateng
(all Bayern Munich), Marcel Schmelzer, Mats Hummels (all
Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke 04), Per
Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christian Trasch (VfL Wolfsburg);
Midfielders: Toni Kroos, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas
Muller (all Bayern Munich), Sven Bender, Mario Gotze (all
Borussia Dortmund), Simon Rolfes, Andre Schuerrle (all Bayer
Leverkusen), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (Cologne),
Marco Reus (Borussia Monchengladbach);
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose
(Lazio).