Mike Hanke, playing in Bundesliga team VfL Wolfsburg, has been ruled out of Germany's squad for their forthcoming European Championship qualifiers because of tonsilitis. The German Football Association said on Tuesday that the striker would not be replaced for the matches against Ireland in Stuttgart on Saturday and in San Marino four days later.
Germany coach Joachim Löw called up Alexander Madlung for the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers. The 24 years-old defender from German side VfL Wolfsburg replaced the injured Christoph Metzelder of Borussia Dortmund.
On Thursday Löw named a 20-man squad. Germany face Ireland in their Group D opener in Stuttgart on Saturday and then travel to San Marino four days later.
Löw is without three of his four World Cup 2006 central defenders for the start of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Injuries to Per Mertesacker, Robert Huth and Jens Nowotny has forced Löw to rebuild his defence.
Additionally Christoph Metzelder announced on Sunday that he will miss both games due to a knee injury. After a morning training session at his club he still had problems with his right knee so doctors have agreed for a surgery on August 30.
However, Löw will have captain Michael Ballack back in midfield for the two encounters. Ballack had missed the Sweden friendly last week with a hip injury he sustained while playing for Chelsea in the FA Community Shield match against Liverpool.
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