In a shocking move, Germany's football coach Joachim Low decided to leave out 2014 World Cup-winning goal scorer Mario Gotze from its provisional squad for the 2018 World Cup (WC) in Russia.
The Borussia Dortmund striker scored a spectacular volley in extra time against Argentina to seal Germany's fourth World Cup in one of the most watched football match in history at that time in 2014.
However, despite being out of any footballing action after breaking a foot in September, ace Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been picked in the provisional squad.
Provisional Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St-Germain)
Defenders: Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich), Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St-Germain), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Leon Goretska (Schalke), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Manchester City)
Forwards: Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Nils Petersen (SC Freiburg), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart)
