The US men's national team now have a better idea of who they will be up against on June 26 at the 2014 World Cup.
On Thursday, Germany national team manager Joachim Low unveiled his 30-man preliminary squad at German soccer federation headquarters in Frankfurt.
The German squad, with only five players over the age of 28, features seven representatives from defending Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and six from powerhouse Borussia Dortmund. Those 13 players will join Germany camp only after competing in the German Cup final on May 17.
The biggest story of the roster unveiling was the call-up of Real Madrid central midfielder Sami Khedira, who has played in just 11 matches in the La Liga season after suffering an ACL injury to his right knee. He has only recently returned to the Real Madrid squad and is expected to be on the squad for the UEFA Champions League final.
Rumored MLS target Miroslav Klose is still in the running to become the all-time record scorer in World Cup history if he can make the final 23-man roster for Brazil. With two more goals, the 35-year-old would beat out Brazilian forward Ronaldo (15 goals) for the World Cup record.
The surprise call-ups were a group of young players -- Kevin Volland (21yrs), Erik Durm (21yrs), Leon Goretzka (19yrs) and Max Meyer (18yrs) -- who will hope to survive the first round of roster cuts after the May 13 friendly against Poland. In its other friendlies, Germany will stay home to face Cameroon (June 1) and Armenia (June 6) before traveling to Brazil.
GOALKEEPERS (3):
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich - Germany / 28yrs)
Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund - Germany / 33yrs)
Ron–Robert Zieler (Hannover - Germany / 25yrs)
DEFENDERS (10):
Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich - Germany / 25yrs)
Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund - Germany / 21yrs)
Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund - Germany / 25yrs)
Benedikt Howedes (Schalke 04 - Germany / 26yrs)
Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund - Germany / 25yrs)
Marcell Jansen (Hamburg - Germany / 28yrs)
Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich - Germany / 30yrs)
Per Mertesacker (Arsenal - England / 29yrs)
Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria - Italy / 22yrs)
Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund / 26yrs)
MIDFIELDERS (15):
Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen - Germany / 25yrs)
Julian Draxler (Schalke 04 - Germany / 20yrs)
Matthias Ginter (Freiburg - Germany / 20yrs)
Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04 - Germany / 19yrs)
Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich - Germany / 21yrs)
Andre Hahn (Augsburg - Germany / 23yrs)
Sami Khedira (Real Madrid - Spain / 27yrs)
Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich - Germany / 24yrs)
Max Meyer (Schalke 04 - Germany / 18yrs)
Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich - Germany / 24yrs)
Mesut Ozil (Arsenal - England / 25yrs)
Lukas Podolski (Arsenal - England / 28yrs)
Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund - Germany / 24yrs)
Andre Schurrle (Chelsea - England / 23yrs)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich - Germany / 29yrs)
FORWARDS (2):
Miroslav Klose
(Lazio - Italy / 35yrs)
Kevin Volland
(Hoffenheim - Germany / 21yrs)
