Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller has criticised Germany coach Joachim Loew for not naming goalkeeper Rene Adler in his latest national squad.

Adler was Germany’s number one goalkeeper in the build-up to this summer’s World Cup, but an injury prior to the tournament meant he missed out and Bayern Munich’s Hans-Jorg Butt was called up to replace him in the 23-man squad for South Africa.

Schalke goalkeeper Manuel Neuer earned a starting role during the tournament and only he and his understudy Tim Wiese have been named in an 18-man squad for a friendly with Denmark this week.

This has shocked Voeller, who says goalkeeper Adler deserved a recall to the squad.

“With all respect to the other goalkeepers, in the future, it is only going to come down to who between Neuer and Adler will be selected,” he said.

Adler, who is now back to full fitness, was told he had been left out by a journalist from the Bild newspaper, who asked him his thoughts. However, he chose not to be critical in his choice of words.

“I have just got to accept it. They were both at the World Cup,” said the 25-year-old.

Meanwhile, Loew’s squad has already been reduced to just 17 players since Hamburg midfielder Piotr Trochowski was forced to pull out due to injury.

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