Klinsmann drops Kuranyi and calls Nowotny
Germany announced their squad for the WC today: Jürgen Klinsmann dropped Kevin Kuranyi but picked 32-year old defender Jens Nowotny and newcomer David Odonkor.
Kuranyi certainly had a weak season with Schalke, and failed to deliver after his €6.9million move from Stuttgart. Having said so, we still think he would have been a better choice than Gerald Asamoah (not sure why he plays for Germany…). With regard to Nowotny, we’re glad to see that Klinsmann has finally woken up! The Leverkusen defender, who hasn’t played for Germany since the new coach took over after Euro2004, has had a fantastic season and should have been called in the team a long time ago: he will bring a lot of experience and add the stability the German defence so desperately needs. As for 22-year old Borussia Dortmund midfielder Odonkor, who has only played for Germany’s U21, Klinsmann explained:
He’s a great talent and brings something we urgently need - speed, the unexpected and someone who can sprint to the goal line and give us a cross from deep in the corner. We believe that he can help us with his cheekiness, something we’re missing.
All in all Germany appears to be rather weak: apart from 3 world-class goalkeepers, a world-class midfielder (Ballack) and a striker with world-class potential (Podolski), they look too vulnerable in defence and lack lethal striking force, and many of the 23 players in the squad would hardly make it into any of the other major national team. It will be tough for Germany.
