Germany coach Joachim Low has made the surprise decision to announce he will not be taking Kevin Kuranyi to the World Cup this summer – over a month before the showpiece tournament starts (14/1 Germany – World Cup outright).
Low revealed he contacted the Schalke goal-getter on Monday to inform him he will not be going to South Africa.
Kuranyi has been overlooked by Low ever since stormed out of the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund before the final whistle after being omitted from the match-day squad for the qualifier against Russia in October 2008.
However, his 18 Bundesliga goals for the Royal Blues this season have led to a clamour for his recall to the national side.
Germany icon Franz Beckenbauer urged Low to make the peace with the Brazil-born forward to give ‘Die Mannschaft’ best possible chance of winning football’s biggest international prize for the fourth time.
However, Low said a clash of personalities had nothing to do with his decision to omit the free-scoring 28-year-old.
“The disciplinary incident in October 2008 was not a consideration recently,” Low said in a press release from the German Football Association (DFB).
“It would have been no problem for us to give him a new chance in the national team.
“However, after consideration among our coaching staff we came to the conclusion that we had other ideas, tactically and personnel-wise, for the composition of the World Cup squad.
“This I discussed today frankly with Kevin, who has had a strong season and whom I think is a player of sound character.”
The decision means three-time winners Germany must pin their hopes on the likes of Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez of Bayern Munich and Stefan Kiessling of Bayer Leverkusen.
Bayern pair Klose and Gomez have scored 10 and three league goals respectively, while Kiessling has fared better than Kuranyi with 21.
Kuranyi said he was bitterly disappointed by Low’s decision but wished the national team every success this summer.
“Like every footballer, I dreamed from when I was a little boy of being able to play in a World Cup,” said the striker, who also missed out on a place in Jurgen Klinsmann’s squad for the 2006 tournament.
“This dream has now burst for a second time.
“Therefore it is clear that this decision makes me very sad.”
Germany kick off their World Cup Group D campaign against Australia in Durban on June 13 (8/15 Germany 13/5 draw 9/2 Australia – match betting).
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