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Germany
Goalkeepers
1-Jens Lehmann (Arsenal) Date of Birth: 10.11.69 Caps: 29 Goals: 0
J.Lehmann won the battle with Oliver Kahn for the starting goalkeeper spot in the German national team. His excellent performance in the Champions League season playing for Arsenal in London helped him win this battle. The highlight of this player's career came in the semi-finals, where he saved a penalty from Juan Roman Riquelme, securing his team's spot in the final.
This will be J.Lehmann's first tournament representing the German national team, where he will be the main goalkeeper. The player participated in the 1998 and 2002 World Cups, but did not play in any matches. However, the lack of competition experience should not have a significant impact on the goalkeeper's performance in such high-level tournaments, given J.Lehmann's self-confidence.
12-Oliver Kahn (Bayern) Date of Birth: 15.06.69 Caps: 84 Goals: 0
O.Kahn was recognized as the best goalkeeper of the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. In that tournament, he led his team heroically to the final, but a mistake in the final against Brazil led to the team's defeat. Following the tournament, Kahn made several childish mistakes while playing for Bayern Munich, which tarnished his reputation. Nevertheless, it will be strange to see this player sitting on the bench.
23-Timo Hildebrand (Stuttgart) Date of Birth: 05.04.79 Caps: 3 Goals: 0
A decade younger than the main team goalkeepers J.Lehmann and O.Kahn, the player is considered the successor to these two individuals. A very solid goalkeeper, but he cannot lead his team to victory like the two older team goalkeepers.
Defenders
3-Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin) Date of Birth: 29.05.79 Caps: 34 Goals: 0
Debuted in the national team with only two Bundesliga matches under his belt and immediately established himself on the right defensive flank. This year, while playing for his club, the player did not impress, but representing the German national team demonstrated excellent form and is considered an important pillar of the defensive line. The player can also play as a central defender.
4-Robert Huth (Chelsea) Date of Birth: 18.08.84 Caps: 15 Goals: 2
A popular tall central defender among German national team fans due to his dedication to playing for his country. Very powerful in the air, also intimidating his opponents often successfully attempting to intercept the ball. Despite the advantages, the player sometimes takes a poor position on the field. The player could correct this by playing more matches, but Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho rarely puts R.Huth on the field.
21-Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund) Date of Birth: 05.11.80 Caps: 19 Goals: 0
In the previous World Cup, this defender was the youngest player in the German national team, but managed to establish himself in the main lineup with his excellent defensive performance. Unfortunately, after the tournament, the player suffered various serious injuries, but this season he finally managed to get rid of them. Although this season was not very successful for the player, national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann decided to trust this defender.
2-Marcell Jansen (Monchengladbach) Date of Birth: 01.11.85 Caps: 4 Goals: 0
Another player chosen by Jurgen Klinsmann from obscurity. Playing as a left-back for the national team, he played reliably, but Philipp Lahm's return to the squad will probably place the player on the bench.
17-Per Mertesacker (Hannover 96) Date of Birth: 29.09.84 Caps: 20 Goals: 1
A very good header, as well as a player capable of sending the ball accurately, P.Mertesacker, since his debut match against Iran in 2004, has established himself in the German national team as the main central defender. J.Klinsmann did not take the player out of the lineup despite pressure from the press to replace the young defender with the experienced C.Worns.
6-Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen) Date of Birth: 11.01.74 Caps: 45 Goals: 1
Once considered one of the best German defenders, the player has not played in the national team for two years. However, after recovering from injuries, the player was again included in the German national team. His performances this season wearing the Bayer jersey reminded everyone of his true worth, and his experience brings a lot of benefit to the "green" defensive line.
16-Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich) Date of Birth: 11.11.83 Caps: 17 Goals: 1
Since his debut in 2004 against Croatia, the player has established himself in the German national team as one of the most reliable defenders. After spending two years playing for Stuttgart, the defender moved to the strongest German club, Bayern. In this club, the player experienced many injuries, but this season healed them and showed an excellent game, displacing the experienced Bixente Lizarazu from the main lineup.
Midfielders
13-Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich/Chelsea) Date of Birth: 26.09.76 Caps: 63 Goals: 30
M.Ballack will have two challenges this year - to lead the German national team to first place in the World Cup, and to prove his worth playing in the Premier League for Chelsea, with which the player recently signed a contract. Together with O.Kahn, he led the German team to the final of the 2002 World Cup. However, in the final, the player did not play due to a yellow card received in the semi-final.
The player can help the team defensively, as well as excellently organize the attack and score goals when needed. The midfielder is especially dangerous from set-pieces or corners.
18-Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen) Date of Birth: 02.05.80 Caps: 17 Goals: 1
T.Borowski is a technically strong player, one of the leaders of Werder Bremen. However, his abilities demonstrated in the club have so far been difficult for the player to implement in the national team. When the player is in top form, he poses a huge threat to the opponents' goals with his accurate passes and dangerous shots. If this midfielder could reach such form in the World Cup, J.Klinsmann would have a powerful secret weapon.
22-David Odonkor (Borussia Dortmund) Date of Birth: 21.02.84 Caps: 0 Goals: 0
A player known for his impressive speed was included in the World Cup squad without playing a single match for the German national team. Playing for Dortmund, the player stood out for his abundance of assist and scored one goal himself.
Having recovered from past injuries, D.Odonkor became one of the biggest Bundesliga discoveries, but his call-up to the national team is still considered a surprise and one of J.Klinsmann's riskiest moves.
8-Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen) Date of Birth: 22.11.76 Caps: 49 Goals: 6
A dynamic midfielder who moved to Bayern a few years ago struggled to showcase his talent in the Bavarian club. However, after moving to Werder, the player found himself again and continues to delight German football fans with excellent performances. Alongside Michael Ballack, the player can help the team defensively or launch dangerous attacks down the flanks. Frings' excellent coordination with fellow midfielder Tim Borowski could benefit the national team.
15-Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart) Date of Birth: 05.04.82 Caps: 13 Goals: 0
This player broke into the German national team in 2004, playing as a defender, although he played as a midfielder for his club Aston Villa. Despite not playing very stably for Stuttgart after moving to the new club, the player's versatility could be useful for the German national team. The player has a good long-range shot, but has not yet scored for the national team.
19-Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen) Date of Birth: 17.11.73 Caps: 61 Goals: 1
Attracting fans with his excellent passes and crosses into the penalty area, B.Schneider is one of the most talented and experienced players in the national team. However, the player often avoids taking the initiative when the team needs it most. J.Klinsmann placed this player at the right defensive edge in friendly matches, but with Sebastian Deisler out of the squad, B.Schneider will probably play as an attacking midfielder.
The German national team coach will hope that the player will play in this tournament as he did in the 2002 World Cup, where the player showed his true worth, and not like in the 2004 European Cup, where the midfielder disappointed German fans with his lackluster performance.
7-Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) Date of Birth: 01.08.84 Caps: 25 Goals: 5
This player is perhaps the most talented midfielder in the German national team. With excellent ball control and a powerful shot, the player can cause many problems for the opponents' defenders. Together with Lukas Podolski, this player can break any defense. B. Schweinsteiger has also played in the defensive sector for the national team, but the player brings the most value as a midfielder.
5-Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund) Date of Birth: 13.02.80 Caps: 25 Goals: 3
As a defensive midfielder, the player can distribute balls excellently to his teammates. When in top form, the player can control the pace of the game and help defenders defend, allowing M.Ballack to attack more. The player played solidly in the 2002 World Cup, and this gives J.Klinsmann hope.
Forwards
11-Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen) Date of Birth: 09.06.78 Caps: 52 Goals: 21
In the 2002 World Cup, the player started the tournament strongly, scoring 5 goals in the group stage. However, in the subsequent matches, the player failed to make an impact, and the 2004 European Championship was a disaster for the player.
However, the striker's performance this season playing for Werder club gives hope that the player will have a successful comeback. M.Klose played well this season, not only scoring goals with his head, but also creating dangerous opportunities near the opponents' goal.
10-Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach) Date of Birth: 01.05.73 Caps: 52 Goals: 6
Born in Switzerland, the forward entered the national team despite scoring few goals while playing for them over many matches. The player's strengths are his speed and ability to play on the flanks.
The player secured his place in the national team in friendly matches against the USA, where after coming on as a substitute, O.Neuville scored a remarkable goal.
20-Lukas Podolski (Cologne) Date of Birth: 04.06.85 Caps: 22 Goals: 10
A great hope for German football. The player is known for his strength, speed, lethal shot, and self-confidence against opponents' goals. L.Podolski broke into the national team before the 2004 European Championship, but played only 45 minutes in that tournament.
The player managed to gain the coach's trust, scoring 3 goals in 5 matches at the Confederations Cup. It is certain that the forward will also show why he is so highly valued by German football fans in the World Cup.
14-Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04) Date of Birth: 03.10.78 Caps: 38 Goals: 6
Born in Ghana, the player became the first black player to play for the German national team. Overcoming heart problems, the forward played his first national team match in 2001 and scored a goal in that match, but his subsequent career in the German national team was not successful. G.Asamoah has not been successful in playing for the national team in recent years, so the player will probably spend most of the World Cup on the bench.
9-Mike Hanke (Wolfsburg) Date of Birth: 05.11.83 Caps: 6 Goals: 1
The inclusion of the talented forward in the squad sparked much debate because M.Hanke will have to miss the first two World Cup matches due to a red card received in a match against Mexico in the Confederations Cup and is unlikely to significantly contribute to the team in the group stage.
