Löw sticks with Cacau for France friendly
Reuters - Wednesday 22 February 2012, 11:14
Out-of-form VfB Stuttgart
striker Cacau has been included in the Germany squad for their
friendly against France next Wednesday despite his disappointing
season so far and amid growing competition from a string of
younger Bundesliga players.
The 30-year-old, who has notched just four goals in 22
league games this season, scored the last of his five
international goals in September 2011 against Poland.
The Brazil-born forward was widely expected to lose his spot
to Borussia Monchengladbach's Mike Hanke as Germany prepare
their bid to end a 16-year title drought with victory at June's
Euro 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.
"It is the year of our big chance," coach Joachim Low told
reporters. "The chance of achieving quite a bit in the
tournament."
Germany will face France in Bremen next Wednesday without
the injured Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Goetze, Lukas Podolski
and Per Mertesacker.
The three-time European champions will also play friendlies
with Switzerland on May 26 and Israel on June 1 before the start
of the tournament.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder
Bremen)
Defenders: Dennis Aogo (Hamburg SV), Holger Badstuber
(Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt
Howedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp
Lahm (Bayern Munich), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund),
Christian Trasch (VfL Wolfsburg)
Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Borussia
Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern
Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real
Madrid), Marco Reus (Borussia Monchengladbach), Simon Rolfes
(Bayer Leverkusen), Andre Schuerrle (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Cacau (VfB Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav
Klose (Lazio).