Germany coach Joachim Low has handed a first senior international call-up to Hamburg's Jerome Boateng.
Germany name squad for crunch clashes
Germany coach Joachim Low has handed a first senior international call-up to Hamburg's Jerome Boateng.
The defender forms part of a 24-man squad selected for the upcoming 2010 World Cup qualifiers.
Germany face a crunch double-header against Russia and Finland as they attempt to book their place in South Africa.
Avoiding defeat in Moscow on October 10th would mean Low's men could seal their safe passage to the finals against the Finns four days later.
Boateng will be hoping to play some part in those fixtures and has received a ringing endorsement from his national boss.
"He has played very well in different positions for Hamburg this season, whether it be at the centre of the defence or as a full-back or even as a defensive midfielder," said Low.
"Furthermore, he made a great impression at the European U21 Championship triumph.
"Therefore, it is only logical that he should take the next step with the national team.
"One of his strengths is that he is very versatile in the defence and has a lot of potential."
Low is also delighted to have skipper Michael Ballack on board after a slight knock, with the Chelsea man having sat out the Blues' UEFA Champions League trip to APOEL Nicosia in midweek with a calf problem.
"I am really glad that he did not play on Wednesday," he added.
Full Germany squad for games against Russia and Finland:
Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Schalke), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)
Defenders: Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Marcel Schafer (Wolfsburg), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke)
Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Christian Gentner (Wolfsburg), Thomas Hitzlsperger, Sami Khedira (both Stuttgart), Marko Marin, Mesut Ozil (both Werder Bremen), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg)
Forwards: Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose (both Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)
