Loew axes trio
Germany will travel to this month's World Cup in Brazil with only one out-and-out striker to end their 18-year wait for an international title after coach Joachim Loew cut Kevin Volland from his final 23-man squad on Monday.
Hoffenheim forward Volland joined defender Shkodran Mustafi and left back Marcel Schmelzer, still nursing a knee injury, as the three players left out of the final squad after being included in a provisional selection for a training camp in Italy.
"Obviously Shkodran, Marcel and Kevin are very disappointed and I understand that because they had every right to hope they would be in Brazil," Loew told reporters.
"All three are players who still have the chance to take part in several big tournaments in their careers."
Volland's exclusion came as a surprise given the stocky striker's physical strength and all-round play were seen as a good alternative to veteran forward Miroslav Klose, who will be 36 next week.
Loew included Borussia Dortmund's Erik Durm, who can play as left back, in the final squad after he won praise following his first cap on Sunday while also sticking with youngsters Julian Draxler and Matthias Ginter as well as midfielder Chrstioph Kramer, who won his first two caps in the past weeks.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich)
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