Germany coach Joachim Loew has named just eight members of his World Cup squad in an 18-man roster for Wednesday’s friendly international against Denmark in Copenhagen.
VfL Wolfsburg defender Sascha Riether and midfielder Marco Reus of Borussia Moenchengladbach are the only new faces while Schalke 04 goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is the only first-team regular to be named by Loew.
Marcel Schaefer of Wolfsburg, Hanover’s Christian Schulz and new Stuttgart signing Christian Gentner return after long absences while West Ham United’s Thomas Hitzlsperger, Aaron Hunt of Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen’s Patrick Helmes are also named.
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The match against Denmark is Germany’s only warm-up game before qualifying for Euro 2012 begins on September 3 against Belgium.
Germany, who finished third at the World Cup in South Africa, also play Azerbaijan on September 7.