Mario Goetze, who scored the winning goal at Brazil 2014, has been left out of Germany’s provisional squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup finals in Russia after an erratic season with Borussia Dortmund.
“It’s definitely not been his season. He has huge qualities, but isn’t in form,” explained Joachim Loew.
“Personally, I feel sorry for him and it was a hard decision.”
However, Loew pulled a surprise by handing a first call-up to Freiburg striker Nils Petersen, 29, the top-scoring German in the Bundesliga this season with 15 goals.
The injured Manuel Neuer was also named in the extended 27-man squad despite not playing since September.
The provisional also includes the likes of Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller Leroy Sane, Mesut Ozil, Mats Hummels and Ilkay Gundogan.
Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng has been called up even though he is currently sidelined by a groin injury.
Dortmund winger Marco Reus has a spot in the extended squad after missing out on the victorious 2014 World Cup squad after tearing ankle ligaments in a warm-up game.
Germany open their Russia 2018 campaign against Mexico in Moscow on June 17, the defending champions also facing South Korea and Sweden in Group F.
Four players will be cut from the squad before the finals begin.
SQUAD:
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona/ESP), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain/FRA)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Moechengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Ruediger (Chelsea/ENG) Niklas Suele (Bayern Munich), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders/Forwards: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City/ENG), Sami Khedira (Juventus/ITA), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/ESP), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Nils Petersen (Freiburg), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Manchester City/ENG), Timo Werner (RB Leipizg)