Loew names uncapped pair in preliminary squad

Germany coach Joachim Loew yesterday named uncapped teenage midfielder Julian Draxler and goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen in his provisional squad for Euro 2012.

The two surprises in Loew’s initial 27-man squad are Schalke 04’s 18-year-old Draxler and Moenchengladbach’s shot-stopper ter Stegen, 20, for the European Championships to be hosted by Poland and the Ukraine.

Loew has named four goalkeepers and 13 midfielders in his provisional group but must cut four names by May 29 before taking a 23-man squad to Euro 2012 which kicks off on June 8 with the final in Kiev on July 1.

“Julian Draxler has not played for us yet, but he has enormous potential, especially with his speed in one-on-one situations,” explained Loew.

With just one appearance for Germany, another surprise is the call up of midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, one of five players from German champions Borussia Dortmund, while eight Bayern Munich players have been selected.

Twins Lars and Sven Bender, of Bayer Leverkusen and Dortmund, have both been included.

With Dortmund and Bayern both in Saturday’s German cup final in Berlin, Loew will take the bulk of his squad to a training camp in Sardinia on Friday before the second camp in the south of France begins on May 19.

Bayern’s stars will join up with the Germany squad after the Champions League final in Munich against Chelsea the same day.