HIKI NDIO KIKOSI CHA UJERUMANI

Germany coach Joachim Low has announced his 30-man provisional squad for this summer's World Cup in Brazil, with Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez as one of the most notable absentees.

The former Bayern Munich star has been plagued by injury this term and Low has instead opted to include Hoffenheim youngster Kevin Volland alongisde Miroslav Klose.

Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who is set to join Barcelona this summer, also misses out as Ron-Robert Zieler gets the nod as third-choice shot-stopper instead.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has been included despite missing much of the season due to a knee injury.

Along with Volland, promising youngsters Erik Durm, Shkodran Mustafi, Matthias Ginter, Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer are all among the more surprising inclusions in the preliminary squad, with the final 23-man party set to be confirmed on June 2.

Germany meet Portugal, Ghana and United States in the group stages this summer.

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), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund)    
                 
Midfielders : Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)    

Attackers : Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schurrle (Chelsea), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich)