Preview: Germany vs. Norway
Updated: February 9, 2009, 10:22 AM EST 1 comment Germany newcomers Andreas Beck and Mesut Oezil are likely to play in the friendly against Norway.
"We think they should get some playing time," assistant coach Hansi Flick said Monday. "They should prove themselves in competition."
Beck, a defender, plays for surprise Bundesliga leader Hoffenheim, while Oezil is a midfielder with Werder Bremen. Oezil has decided to play for Germany rather than Turkey, the land of his ancestors. If he plays Wednesday in Duesseldorf, he won't be able to change his mind, but Oezil has made it clear that he saw his football future with Germany.
Flick praised Beck's development since arriving in Hoffenheim from Stuttgart.
"He has the necessary confidence," Flick said.
Germany's opening game in 2009 is a warm-up for some decisive World Cup qualifying matches later this year.
"It's a very important year," Flick said. "We want to qualify for the World Cup as early as possible, by making sure of winning the group."
Germany leads its group with three wins and one draw and has a four-point edge over Russia and Wales.
"We had a good start, but we haven't achieved anything yet," Germany captain Michael Ballack said. "We want to win all games coming up.
"That's why we have to take friendlies very seriously."
Ballack missed Germany's last game, a 2-1 loss to England in Berlin in November, when he was still in the process of coming back from operations on both feet.
Miroslav Klose, who scored two late goals to give Bayern Munich a 3-1 win over Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on Sunday, has a knock on a thigh but should be able to play Wednesday, Flick said.
Norway coach Egil Olsen will be without stars John Carew, John Arne Riise and Steffen Iversen in his first game in charge since returning to the guide the team after 10 years.
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Werder Bremen midfielder Mehmut Oezil has been included in the Germany squad for the friendly match against Norway next week.
Oezil, who could also have played for Turkey, was one of the 21 players called up by coach Joachim Loew. If Oezil plays against Norway he will forfeit the right to represent Turkey. Oezil has already played for Germany's Under-21 team.
"I am pleased about my invitation and I will seek my chance with the German team," Oezil was quoted as saying by the German football federation. "I know that it is the right choice."
"It was not an easy decision since my family and many friends come from Turkey. It's also not a decision against my Turkish roots," said Oezil, noting that he is a third-generation Turk in Germany.
Loew said Oezil had told him last week that he wanted to play for Germany.
"It was then clear that we would invite him for the game against Norway. With him, we have another candidate with perspective in the midfield," Loew said.
The Turkish national side were also keen on Oezil.
"That's why we waited until he had made his decision on wanting to play for Germany," Loew added.
Another newcomer was defender Andreas Beck from the Bundesliga's surprise leader Hoffenheim.
Goalkeeper Robert Enke of Hannover, who is playing again after breaking his hand, was omitted despite being the chosen successor of Jens Lehmann as first-choice keeper after the European Championship.
Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski, who has resumed training after three months out because of a back problem, was also left out.
Loew said Wednesday's game in Duesseldorf was too soon for both Enke and Podolski.
Captain Michael Ballack and midfielder Torsten Frings, who had a public row with Loew, were back in the squad. Ballack and Frings both missed Germany's last game, a 2-1 loss to England in November. Ballack was ruled not fit enough after an injury and Frings was left out by mutual agreement.
The captain had criticized Loew for leaving Frings on the bench for two World Cup qualifiers. Both players later apologized and Loew had said they would return to the team.
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The squad:
Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen).
Defenders: Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Andreas Hinkel (Celtic), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke).
Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Marko Marin (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Mesut Oezil (Werder Bremen), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV).
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Bayer Leverkusen), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich).
