Midfielders
Michael Ballack
Made his debut for Germany on April 28, 1999, against Scotland, aged 22. Currently playing for Bayern Munich but set to join Chelsea at the start of the 2006-2007 season, Ballack has 63 caps for Germany and has scored 30 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: September 26, 1976
Height: 1.89 m (6ft 2 in)
Fact: Ballack was named German Footballer of the Year in 2002, 2003, and 2005, and in March 2004, he was included in a list of the 125 greatest living professional footballers, chosen by Pelé.
Bernd Schneider
made his debut for Germany in July 1999, against New Zealand, aged 25. Currently playing for Bayer Leverkusen, Schneider has won 61 caps for Germany and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: November 17, 1973
Height: 1.76m (5ft 9in)
Fact: With 10 goals in 33 appearances for Bayer Leverkusen in 2003-2004, Schneider was one of the highest scoring midfielders in the Bundesliga.
Tim Borowski
Made his debut for Germany in August 2002, against Bulgaria, aged 22. Currently playing for Werder Bremen, Borowski has won 17 caps for Germany and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: May 2, 1980
Height: 1.94m (6ft 3in)
Fact: Borowski has spent his entire professional career to date at Werder Bremen; his career highlights include winning the league and cup double in 2004.
David Odonker
Currently playing for Borussia Dortmund, Odonker is yet to make his senior international debut for Germany (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: February 21, 1984
Height: 1.72m (5ft 7in)
Fact: One of the fastest players in the Bundesliga, Odonker was the only uncapped member of Germany's squad at the time of selection although he has played for his country at U16, U19, and U21 levels.
Torsten Frings
Made his debut for Germany in February 2001, against France, aged 24. Currently playing for Werder Bremen, Frings has won 49 caps for Germany and has scored 6 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: November 22, 1976
Height: 1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: This is Frings' second spell at Werder Bremen; he spent six seasons with the club between 1996 and 2002. He rejoined the club from Bayern Munich in 2005, where he had enjoyed a successful season, winning both the German cup and league titles.
Thomas Hitzlsperger
Made his debut for Germany in October 2004, against Iran, aged 24. Currently playing for VfB Stuttgart, Hitzlsperger has won 13 caps for Germany and has scored 0 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: April 5, 1982
Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Before moving to VfB Stuttgart in 2005, Hitzlsperger spent six seasons with Premiership side Aston Villa (including a loan period at Chesterfield); he opted to return to Germany for the 2005-2006 season to boost his chances of selection for the World Cup squad.
Sebastian Kehl
Made his debut for Germany in May 2001, against Slovakia, aged 21. Currently playing for Borussia Dortmund, Kehl has won 25 caps for Germany and has scored 3 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: February 13, 1980
Height: 1.88m (6ft 3in)
Fact: Once hailed as a possible successor to legendary former German midfielder Lothar Matthäus, Kehl was transferred to current club Borussia Dortmund from Freiburg in 2001 after he controversially broke a pre-contract agreement with Bayern Munich.
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Made his debut for Germany in June 2004, against Hungary, aged 19. Currently playing for Bayern Munich, Schweinsteiger has won 25 caps for Germany and has scored 5 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: August 1, 1984
Height: 1.81m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Bastian's older brother Tobias plays for German Second Division side VfB Lübeck.
Forwards
Miroslav Klose
Made his debut for Germany on March 24, 2001, against Albania, aged 22. Currently playing for Werder Bremen, Klose has 52 caps for Germany and has scored 21 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: June 9, 1978
Height: 1.82m (5ft 11in)
Fact: Klose comes from a highly talented sporting family—his father was a professional footballer for French club AJ Auxerre, while his mother played handball for the Polish national team.
Oliver Neuville
Made his debut for Germany in September 1998, against Malta, aged 25. Currently playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach, Neuville has 52 caps for Germany and has scored 6 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: May 1, 1973
Height: 1.71m (5ft 7in)
Fact: Swiss-born Neuville is another World Cup veteran; he scored against Paraguay in the second round of the 2002 competition.
Gerald Asamoah
Made his debut for Germany in May 2001, against Slovakia, aged 22. Currently playing for Schalke 04, Asamoah has won 38 caps for Germany and has scored 6 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: October 3, 1978
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: Born in Ghana, Asamoah moved to Germany when he was still at school and opted to play international football for his adopted country rather than his birth country; he scored on his debut for Germany.
Lukas Podolski
Made his debut for Germany in June 2004, against Hungary, aged 19. Currently playing for FC Koln, Podolski has won 22 caps for Germany and has scored 10 goals for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: June 4, 1985
Height: 1.80m (5ft 10in)
Fact: At 19 years old, Polish-born Podolski was the youngest member of Germany's squad at the European Championships in 2004.
Mike Hanke
Made his debut for Germany in June 2005, against Russia, aged 21. Currently playing for VfL Wolfsburg, Hanke has won 6 caps for Germany and has scored 1 goal for his country (as at March 22, 2006).
Date of birth: November 5, 1983
Height: 1.85m (6ft)
Fact: A former regular for the Germany U21 side, Hanke scored 14 goals in 26 appearances before graduating to the senior international squad.
