Loew includes youngster Oezil, recalls Ballack

Germany coach Joachim Loew has called up talented midfielder Mesut Oezil and recalled captain Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings for next week's friendly against Norway.

Loew, who had a public dispute over tactics with Ballack and Frings last year, also named uncapped Hoffenheim defender Andreas Beck in his squad yesterday.

The 20-year-old Oezil, born in Germany to Turkish parents, was also courted by the Turkish national team but the Werder Bremen player opted for Germany.

Goalkeeper Robert Enke was left out despite succeeding Jens Lehmann as first-choice keeper after EURO 2008, with Loew selecting Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler and Tim Wiese of Werder Bremen.

Loew said Enke, recently returned from injury, needed more match practice.

Bayern Munich striker Lukas Podolski was left out after only recently recovering from a back injury.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Wiese (Werder Bremen).

Defenders: Beck (Hoffenheim), Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Hinkel (Celtic), Lahm (Bayern Munich), Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Tasci (VfB Stuttgart), Westermann (Schalke).

Midfielders: Ballack (Chelsea), Frings (Werder Bremen), Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Marin (Borussia M'gladbach), Oezil (Werder Bremen), Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Trochowski (Hamburg SV).

Forwards: Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Helmes (Bayer Leverkusen), Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Klose (Bayern Munich).