Cacau among final cuts for Germany
Berlin, Germany (Sports Network) - Forward Cacau was among the final four cut from Germany's 2012 Euro roster, leaving coach Joachim Loew with just two true strikers in Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez.
Cacau was a member of the 2010 World Cup team, but poor form at Stuttgart cost him a spot on the final 23-man roster for the tournament in Poland and Ukraine next month. The 31-year-old has six goals in 23 appearances for Germany.
Goalie Marc-Andre ter Stegen, and midfielders Julian Draxler and Sven Bender were the other players trimmed from the initial provisional squad when Loew announced the moves late Monday.
Germany plays Israel on Thursday in its final friendly before Euros, and opens the event against Portugal on June 9. Germany will also play the Netherlands and Denmark in Group B.
Following is the complete Germany roster:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Ron- Robert Zieler (Hannover).
Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund).
Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Marco Reus (Monchengladbach), Andre Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich).
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich).
