Goalkeepers

1-Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich) Born: 15.6.69
Germany's undisputed number one since Andreas Koepke retired after the 1998 finals and regarded as one of the best in the world. Replaced Oliver Bierhoff as captain this year. Brilliantly saved penalty in shoot-out to win Bayern the European Cup in 2001. A spectacular goalkeeper and true fighter who sometimes gets carried away. Has been booked several times for needless fouls.

12-Jens Lehmann (Borussia Dortmund) Born: 10.11.69
Germany's number three goalkeeper in the Andreas Koepke days, he has since become number two. Made an embarrassing blunder in a dull 1-1 draw with Switzerland ahead of Euro 2000, but nobody questions his class. Left Schalke 04 for AC Milan after the Gelsenkirchen club won the UEFA Cup in 1997. Stayed only one season in Italy, failing to secure a spot in the starting line-up, and joined Dortmund in 1998.

23-Hans-Joerg Butt (Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 28.5.74
The German equivalent of Paraguayan extrovert Jose Luis Chilavert with his talent at scoring from penalties and free kicks. Also has a reputation for saving penalties. Joined Leverkusen in 2001. Helped Leverkusen in their pursuit of three major honours last season, but disappointed to finish runners-up in the German league and cup and the Champions League.

Defenders

4-Frank Baumann (Werder Bremen) Born: 29.10.75
Has been a Bremen regular since 1999, where he has been made captain, after many years at Nuremberg. Comfortable as either a central defender or libero and a good squad player. Called up after injury to Christian Worns.

15-Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund) Born: 13.2.80
Hailed by some as the new Franz Beckenbauer, the 22-year-old is a stylish libero with a taste for classy moves forward. Joined Dortmund, after see-saw battle with Bayern, from mid-table Freiburg during the mid-season break. Has come far since debut in a friendly against Slovakia in May 2001.

2-Thomas Linke (Bayern Munich) Born: 26.12.69
A regular in the national team since he joined Bayern from Schalke 04 in 1998. Experienced man-to-man marker who has played in three European finals - winning the UEFA Cup with Schalke in 1997 and losing the 1999 European Cup with Bayern, but then triumphing in 2001 with the Munich club.

21-Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund) Born: 5.11.80
Moved to Borussia Dortmund from third division side in 2000. Tall, fast defender who has established himself in the Dortmund first team, at the cost of veteran defender Juergen Koehler, and worked his way up through junior national sides.

3-Marko Rehmer (Hertha Berlin) Born: 29.4.72
A wing-back or central defender who is dangerous at set pieces when he moves forward. Has recovered full fitness - and is on the way to establishing himself in the national team - after a serious knee injury a year ago. A key member of the Hertha team who has a habit of scoring timely goals.

Midfielders

18-Joerg Boehme (Schalke 04) Born: 22.1.74
Renowned for set-piece deliveries, particularly his devastating free-kicks. Like Rehmer, however, he is injury prone. Has been at Schalke since 2000 after spells at Arminia Bielefeld, TSV 1860 Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt, Nuremberg, Carl Zeiss Jena and Chemie Zeitz.

13-Michael Ballack (Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 26.9.76
Nicknamed The Little Kaiser by the fans, he stood out during qualifying with scintillating displays in two playoffs against Ukraine last November. The performances did much to help him shake off his tag as gifted but somewhat erratic, and lacking in work-rate. A top-scorer in the Bundesliga, helping his team finish runners-up in the league and cup plus Champions League.

22-Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen) Born: 22.11.76
Made his debut in Germany's 1-0 defeat by France in Paris in February last year. Joined Werder Bremen from Alemannia Aachen in 1996. Has had a great season and been linked with Borussia Dortmund for next season, having caught the eye of coach Matthias Sammer, although Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha Berlin and Arsenal have also reportedly expressed an interest.

8-Dietmar Hamann (Liverpool) Born: 27.8.73
Combative midfielder and former Bayern Munich player who left the Bavarians for English premier league club Newcastle United. Has since become the backbone of a Liverpool side that finished league runners-up last season. Scored winner against England at Wembley in qualifying. Known for his free-kicks.

16-Jens Jeremies (Bayern Munich) Born: 5.3.74
A tough tackler, quick going forward and with amazing stamina, Jeremies has often been compared to Manchester United's Ireland midfielder Roy Keane. But he shares Keane's susceptibility to injury and has missed much of this season after two operations on a troublesome knee. While he has struggled to make his mark since returning from injury, a fit Jeremies would be a major boost.

5-Carsten Ramelow (Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 20.03.74
Utility midfielder whose hard work and great vision helped Leverkusen finish runners-up in domestic league and cup and the Champions League. Can also marshall the defence though he struggled in the 4-1 drubbing by Arsenal in the Champions League.

10-Lars Ricken (Borussia Dortmund) Born: 10.7.76 Caps: 16 Goals: 1.
Despite his relative youth, Ricken was a member of the Dortmund side that won the Champions League in 1997. An assured attacking midfielder, he has not quite lived up to the promise of his youth but remains a threat going forward.

19-Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 17.11.73.
Schneider joined Leverkusen from Eintracht Frankfurt and his solid midfield work and accurate passing were a big factor in their pursuit of three major trophies last season, even though the campaign ended in disappointment as they came second in the domestic league and cup and Champions League. His ability to spread passes effectively and skilfully from the centre of midfield to waiting strikers has given Germany a big lift.

6-Christian Ziege (Tottenham Hotspur) Born: 1.2.72
Had a good season at English premier league club Spurs - scoring in the League Cup final defeat by Blackburn Rovers - even though their fortunes were mixed. Has recovered much of his confidence and the touch that was missing when at AC Milan and Liverpool. A speedy left-sided wing-back with an eye for goal.

Forwards

14-Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04) Born: 3.10.78
Debuted in May 2001 friendly against Slovakia, when he scored. Germany's first black player, last got on the scoresheet in 7-1 friendly win against Israel last February. Joined Schalke 04 in 1999 from first division Hanover 96 and was instrumental in winning the German Cup and securing runners-up spot in the Bundesliga in 2001. A flair player who may not start many matches but Voeller is likely to call on him in when he needs more width.

20-Oliver Bierhoff (Monaco) Born: 1.5.68
The next great German striker following Juergen Klinsmann, Bierhoff won star status by scoring both goals in the 2-1 win over the Czech Republic in the Euro '96 final. Known for his heading skills, has recently completed an economics degree.

17-Marco Bode (Werder Bremen) Born: 23.7.69
Has enjoyed a good season, scoring his 100th Bundesliga goal for the club in February. Now in his 13th campaign with Werder, his major honours include the 1992 European Cup Winners Cup and 1999 German Cup. A bit of a dark horse, he can appear on the scoresheet just when you least expect it.
 
9-Carsten Jancker (Bayern Munich) Born: 28.08.74
Last season the tall, shaven-headed Jancker failed to match the international status earned in the previous two terms at Bayern, who he joined from Rapid Vienna in 1996. Low profile since scoring Germany's only goal against England in the Munich qualifier. Jancker has found it difficult to force his way into the Bayern side this season and has been linked with a move to Hertha Berlin.

11-Miroslav Klose (Kaiserslautern) Born: 9.6.78
Something of a revelation, scoring a hat-trick in February's 7-1 victory over Israel in a friendly. While the 23-year-old has taken a little time to develop, his rise in the last two years has been impressive since his international call-up in March 2001. Joined Kaiserslautern from FC Hamburg in 1999, graduating from the amateurs to the first team in 2000.

7-Oliver Neuville (Bayer Leverkusen) Born: 1.5.73
Quick and strong, the Swiss-born player was one of the top strikers in the Bundesliga last season. His career has really taken off since moving to Leverkusen from Hansa Rostock in 1999. Zippy little winger, happy to swing in the crosses but quick to run into the box himself. One of his best performances was in the World Cup playoff second leg against Ukraine, when he scored in the 4-0 win. Has played for Servette in Switzerland and Tenerife in Spain.