Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has picked uncapped Werder Bremen defender Frank Fahrenhorst, but resisted the temptation to recall midfielder Sebastian Deisler, for next week’s friendly international with Austria.
Deisler, who missed almost five months of last season while recovering from depression, has been in impressive early season form but new coach Klinsmann has decided the midfielder would benefit from being omitted from the squad.
“It’s important that we get across the message that the number one priority is the development of Sebastian Deisler and not bringing him into extreme situations which are perhaps not necessary,” Klinsmann told a news conference.
Klinsmann, appointed two weeks ago, selected 17 of the 23 members of the Euro 2004 squad, but there were no places for midfielders Sebastian Kehl, Christian Ziege and Dietmar Hamann or striker Fredi Bobic.
The new coach said that the result of the friendly match, which is part of the Austrian Football Association’s centenary celebrations, was irrelevant, as he was looking ahead to the next World Cup in 2006.
“It’s essential that we think long term about 2006… Of course, we want to beat Austria, we want to play good football, we want to see a good match but what really matters is the World Cup and nothing else,” Klinsmann said.
Germany squad:
Goalkeepers:Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart)
Defenders: Frank Baumann (Werder Bremen), Frank Fahrenhorst (Werder Bremen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Andreas Hinkel (VfB Stuttgart), Philipp Lahm (VfB Stuttgart), Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Fabian Ernst (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Bayern Munich), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Thomas Brdaric (VfL Wolfsburg), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Kevin Kuranyi (VfB Stuttgart), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)
