Germany Teams

Germany has its sights set on capturing a fourth Cup title. But with stars like Miroslav Klose either slumping or injured, the team has its work cut out for itself to get through to the knockout stages.

BERLIN, May 19 (Reuters) - A banner reading "Mission: winning the title" on their internet homepage could not make Germany's intentions clearer -- their goal in South Africa is to win their fourth World Cup, nothing less.

Unlike in previous tournaments, however, Germany cannot really be included among the title favourites, despite their comfortable qualification.

With their strikers Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski in a long-term slump and captain Michael Ballack out injured, Germany must dig deeper into the squad to find the talent which can take them through to the knock-out stages.

Coach Joachim Loew is still undecided on who will start in goal with Rene Adler absent through injury.

Adler, Tim Wiese and Manuel Neuer had been locked in a tightly contested race since the suicide of Robert Enke last year, with Adler apparently ahead -- until his rib injury.

A shaky defence, with central defenders Per Mertesacker, Arne Friedrich and Heiko Westermann still some way from top form, will have its work cut out against the quick Ghanaians, the physical presence of Australia and the skilled Serbians in Group D.

Mesut Ozil, Marko Marin, Toni Kroos and Thomas Mueller will inject skill and creativity that may have been missing in the midfield in the past, but their lack of international experience is striking.

On a good day they can tear any defence to shreds but there have not been many good days as Loew's team struggled in their 2-2 draw against Ivory Coast and were outplayed by Argentina in the 1-0 defeat earlier this year.

Striker Stefan Kiessling could provide a solution up front and much-needed power in the air with Klose and Podolski both out of form.

Loew had yet to decide whether to call up another player to help him cover the absence of influential midfielder Ballack who injured his ankle playing for Chelsea in last weekend's FA Cup final win against Portsmouth.

Judging from past World Cups it would be a mistake to rule Germany out, and they should qualify from the group stage, but Germany have a mountain to climb in search of their first World Cup win since 1990.
May 19 (Reuters) - Factbox on Germany who are in Group D at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa:

Colours: White shirts, black shorts and white socks.

Nickname: Nationalmannschaft

Previous World Cup appearances: 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006

Best World Cup performance: Winners - 1954, 1974, 1990

Losing finalists - 1966, 1982, 1986, 2002

Coach: Joachim Loew

Most capped player: Lothar Matthaeus 150

Top goalscorer: Gerd Mueller 68

Talking points:

The late loss of captain and experienced midfielder Michael Ballack with an ankle injury was a blow to Germany.

Coach Joachim Loew's first World Cup in charge could also be his last, after contract extension talks collapsed earlier this year and were postponed until after the tournament.

Having taken over from Juergen Klinsmann after the 2008 World Cup in Germany, Loew has run the team with a steady hand, steering them to the Euro 2008 final. But he has failed to establish Germany as one of the favourites for the World Cup.

The 50-year-old has not relaxed his ban on striker Kevin Kuranyi and also opted to drop veteran midfielder Torsten Frings in favour of a younger and more agile midfield.

Player to watch:

Striker Lukas Podolski could prove to be a match-winner. With a stunning scoring record for the national team, and after a subdued season at Cologne when he scored just two goals, Podolski is desperate to reveal his best form on the big stage. (Compiled by Karolos Grohmann; editing by Robert Woodward To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)

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Official Germany Squad - Andreas Beck Omitted From Joachim Loew's Final 23-Man Roster
Germany coach Joachim Loew named his final squad for the 2010 World Cup on Tuesday evening.

Due to recent injuries to key players Michael Ballack, Christian Traesch, and Heiko Westermann, Loew had only one cut to make in order to trim his provisional squad down to 23 men.

Left with just two natural central midfielders in his squad, the Germany gaffer appeared set to omit a striker, but instead left out Hoffenheim right back Andreas Beck.

After Westermann, a versatile defender and midfielder, was forced to withdraw with injury, there was speculation that veteran enforcer Torsten Frings would earn a call-up. However, Loew opted to trust youth and stick with members of his provisional squad.

Among those included in Loew's final squad are international newcomers Dennis Aogo, Holger Badstuber, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, and Thomas Mueller. Additionally, youngsters Mesut Ozil, Marko Marin, Sami Khedira, and Andreas Beck were included, giving die Mannschaft a distinctly youthful look.

Germany, led by new captain Philipp Lahm, are set to take on Bosnia and Herzegovina on Thursday in their final warm-up match before the world's greatest contest begins. Ten days later, the three-time World Cup winners begin their quest for glory against Australia.

Germany World Cup squad

Goalkeepers
Manuel Neuer
Tim Wiese
Hans-Joerg Butt

Defenders
Philipp Lahm
Dennis Aogo
Holger Badstuber
Jerome Boateng
Per Mertesacker
Serdar Tasci
Arne Friedrich


Midfielders
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Sami Khedira
Piotr Trochwoski
Marko Marin
Mesut Ozil
Toni Kroos
Marcell Jansen

Forwards
Cacau
Mario Gomez
Thomas Mueller
Miroslav Klose
Lukas Podolski
Stefan Kiessling