BERLIN, May 15 (Xinhua) -- Joachim Loew has revealed his provisional 27-man squad for the upcoming 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Nils Petersen made it into the provisional squad whereas midfielder Mario Goetze and striker Sandro Wagner have not been included.
Neuer's appointment is a surprise as the goalkeeper has been sidelined with a metatarsal break since September 2017. However, Bayern's goalkeeper will be monitored during the training camp. Uncapped Freiburg striker Nils Petersen received an invitation from the national team after scoring 15 goals in the Bundesliga this season. "Nils Petersen is a great trump card. He has little international experience but he will grow with the task."
Dortmund's midfielder Mario Goetze, who scored the winner against Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final, will miss the tournament in Russia due to poor performances in the past season.
"It wasn't Mario's season. He is a great player but he wasn't in form," Leow said. Bayern striker Sandro Wagner misses out on the tournament as Loew favored Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez.
The FIFA World Cup titleholders will have to submit their final 23-man squad including three goalkeepers on June 4. After the FIFA deadline, a player can only be replaced if he seriously injures himself 24 hours before the team's first World Cup match.
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen),Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain) Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea), Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Ilkay Guendogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Oezil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Nils Petersen (Freiburg) Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sane (Manchester City), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig).
