VETERAN GOALSCORER MIROSLAV Klose is the only out-and-out striker in Germany’s World Cup squad.
Coach Jogi Löw cut Hoffenheim’s Kevin Volland as well as two defenders, Shkodran Mustafi and Marcel Schmelzer, as he finalised his 23-man selection today.
It leaves Klose, 35, as the only recognised striker in the camp.
The Lazio forward is set to play at his fourth World Cup where two more goals would see him overtake Ronaldo (15) as the top scorer in World Cup history.
Löw is “100% sure” that he got his squad selection right.
“We have the right mix of many young and highly talented footballers and players with a lot of tournament experience who know what it takes,” he said.
Germany, the third favourites with the bookmakers, play their opening match in Group G against Portugal on 16 June.
Germany World Cup 2014 squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96).
Defenders: Jérome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Gintee (Freiburg), Mario Götze (Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Özil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schürrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).
Strikers: Miroslav Klose (Lazio)
