Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 10y

Low picks Reus, Gomez, Rudiger with 18 World Cup winners for Germany

Germany's first squad since winning the 2014 World Cup has been announced by coach Joachim Low, who has named 18 of the players who triumphed under him in Brazil for next month's friendly rematch against Argentina and the Euro 2016 qualifier against Scotland.

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Less than two months on from the final in Rio de Janeiro, Germany and Argentina meet again in Dusseldorf on Sept. 3. Die Nationalmannschaft will then begin their European Championship campaign four days later against Scotland in Dortmund.

For those two matches, Low has picked all of the World Cup winners available for selection: Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has been ruled out with a knee injury and new Valencia signing Skhodran Mustafi has only just resumed training at his new club.

The pair, however, will attend the Argentina match, where the three retired World Cup winners Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose will receive a final farewell from the German FA (DFB).

All of the other World Cup winners made the squad, which is completed by the return of Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez, Borussia Dortmund attacker Marco Reus and Stuttgart defender Antonio Rudiger.

Gomez and Reus return to the squad following their respective injuries, which ended their hopes of playing at the World Cup. Rudiger, 21, is regarded as a versatile option in Germany's defence.

"I am especially delighted for Marco Reus," Low said. "We missed him in Brazil. I am convinced that he'll play a few great tournaments, and will cause a sensation there.

"I know how hard and disciplined Mario Gomez has worked. He wanted to return to Die Nationalmannschaft by all means and has absolutely deserved this call-up. When he is fit, he is a reinforcement for our attack.

"Antonio Rudiger can be an alternative for our defence."

Low looked ahead to the clash with Argentina, adding: "It's challenging and exciting to play them once again. I have the highest respect for this team.

"Our goal is clear: We don't want to wait for another title for too long, we want to attack at the 2016 European Championships and compete for the title."

Low is yet to announce which player is to succeed Lahm as Germany's captain.

Germany squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rudiger (Stuttgart)

Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea)

Forwards: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Mario Gomez (Fiorentina)

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