Berlin, May 29 (IANS) German coach Joachim Loew left out Stuttgart striker Cacau from the 23-member squad for next month's Euro 2012 football tournament in Ukraine and Poland.
Besides Cacau, Loew also left out Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc Andre ter Stegen, Schalke midfielder Julian Draxler, Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender and Stuttgart striker Cacau from the list that was released Monday, Xinhua reported.
The Brazil-born Cacau struggled last season for the Bundesliga club, comming mostly off the bench. Cacau was part of the sqaud two years ago in the South Africa World Cup.
"It was my objective to take the field again after I played at the worlds in South Africa but I knew that the competition about the 23 tickets will be hard and closely," Cacau said.
In Cacau's absence, Germany will go in with two strikers Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose. But Loew has several attacking midfielders, Thomas Mueller, Lucas Podolski, Andre Schuerrle and Marco Reus, at his disposal and they can play in an attacking role behind a lone striker.
A dejected Monchengladbach goalie ter Stegen said: "I am of course disappointed. Nevertheless, the days at the national team were an interesting experience."
Bender said: "I am of course sorry that have to make my way home. However, I gathered many important impressions that will be valuable for my sportive development."
Germany face Portugal in group B, June 9, to kick off their Euro 2012 campaign.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover).
Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng ( Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Dortmund) , Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal London), Marcel Schmelzer (Dortmund).
Midfielders: Lars Bender (Leverkusen), Mario Gotze (Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).
Strikers: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio Rome), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Marco Reus (Monchengladbach), Andre Schurrle (Leverkusen).
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