Monday 6 October 2014 16:43, UK
Germany coach Joachim Low is adamant there are no sinister reasons behind the exclusion of Kevin Grosskreutz from his latest squad selection.
The versatile Borussia Dortmund midfielder was conspicuously absent from the 20-man list Low revealed last Thursday for upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Poland and the Republic of Ireland.
Rather than reporting for duty on Tuesday, as the World Cup winner has become used to in recent years, he will instead turn up at his usual place of work in Dortmund, under the orders of club boss Jurgen Klopp.
"I spoke about Kevin to Jurgen and we agreed that it makes more sense for him right now to use the international break to work on himself and also to find his feet again for his club," Low said on the German Football Association (DFB) website.
"When he then joins us again, the national team will also benefit."
Grosskreutz's most recent headlines have almost all been for off-the-field antics, even if Low has always stood by him and named him in his squad for the World Cup.
With Dortmund struggling for their form this season, Grosskreutz has also suffered, leading to his exclusion for two games Low says are crucial to the World Cup winners' qualification hopes.
"Both of these games in October are extremely important," he said. "If we are successful against Poland and then afterwards against Ireland, then we could give ourselves a cushion.
"These are opponents who are going to be our biggest rivals for top spot and we want to take our chance.
"Nevertheless, there is still a long way to go after this and nobody has ever qualified after only three matches.
"I also have a lot of respect for Poland, while our first game against Scotland showed what uncomfortable opponents we've got in this group. The same goes for Ireland.
"They play with a lot of effort, lots of enthusiasm and passion. We're certainly not going to make the mistake of under-estimating any opponents.
"We are the world champions, but that does not guarantee us any victories by any stretch of the imagination."
