Germany weakened for Prague test

Joachim Löw has selected four uncapped players in a 20-man squad for the UEFA EURO 2008™ trip to the Czech Republic where Germany will put the leadership of Group D on the line.

New faces
Gonzalo Castro and Bayer 04 Leverkusen team-mate Stefan Kiessling feature in a senior squad for the first time along with VfB Stuttgart midfielder Roberto Hilbert, while No3 goalkeeper Robert Enke is yet to make his debut despite being called up previously. Miroslav Klose and Clemens Fritz are suspended for the 24 March match in Prague, and will also sit out the friendly against Denmark four days later, although Fritz is on standby for the game in Duisburg.

Six injured
Mario Gomez, Mike Hanke, Oliver Neuville, Gerald Asamoah, Tim Borowski and Arne Friedrich are injured. Both Germany and the Czech Republic have ten points from four matches.

Germany squad
Goalkeepers: Robert Enke (Hannover 96), Timo Hildberand (VfB Stuttgart), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal FC).

Defenders: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Manuel Friedrich (1. FSV Mainz 05), Marcell Jansen (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (BV Borussia Dortmund).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea FC), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Bernd Scheider (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinstieger (FC Bayern München), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV).

Forwards: Stefan Kiessling (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Kevin Kuranyi (FC Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München), Jan Schlaudraff (TSV Alemannia Aachen).