Pander set for debut in benefit match

Christian Pander should make a belated debut for Germany when Juergen Klinsmann's side take on a Bundesliga international team in a benefit match for the tsunami relief effort next week.

The Schalke 04 defender, who had to pull out of Germany's Asian tour at the end of last year because of injury, was included in a 21-man squad for the match named yesterday.

Germany's Football Association hopes to raise up to 4.0 million euros ($5.23 million) from the game, which will be played on January 25 at Schalke's stadium in Gelsenkirchen, the venue for last season's Champions League final.

"Football must make a contribution to the fight against hardship and misery," Klinsmann said.

"The focus will be on fun but naturally our thoughts will be with all those who were affected by the disaster. I hope we see an attractive game with a lot of goals."

Bayern Munich's Dutch striker Roy Makaay and eight Brazilians from around the Bundesliga are among the players included in the all-star squad.

"This will be a good opportunity for players to make a case for inclusion for our upcoming games," Klinsmann said.

The coach was forced to leave out the injured VfB Stuttgart defender Philipp Lahm, Robert Huth, who was not released by Chelsea, and Christian Schulz, of Werder Bremen, because of a family bereavement.

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann was included despite the fact that he is no longer first choice with his club. He and Oliver Kahn will play a half each.

"Lehmann is here to get some match practice," Klinsmann said.

Germany, the 2006 World Cup hosts, play their next full international friendly against Argentina in Duesseldorf on February 9.

Klinsmann's Squad

Goalkeepers: Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal).

Defenders: Frank Fahrenhorst (Werder Bremen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Andreas Hinkel (VfB Stuttgart), Per Mertesacker (Hanover 96), Patrick Owomoyela (Arminia Bielefeld), Christian Pander (Schalke 04), Christian Woerns (Borussia Dortmund).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich), Frank Baumann (Werder Bremen), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Marco Engelhardt (FC Kaiserslautern), Fabian Ernst (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Bayern Munich), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).

Forwards: Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Kevin Kuranyi (VfB Stuttgart), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).