BERLIN, May 16 (Xinhua) -- German national team coach Juergen Klinsmann announced his World Cup squad Monday, springing a surprise as he included David Odonkor of Borussia Dortmund but excluded Schalke 04 striker Kevin Kuranyi.

    In choosing uncapped 22-year-old Odonkor, Klinsmann branded him as a "huge talent" who could turn a game with his speed and ability to do the unexpected. "These are things we desperately need," he added.

    Klinsmann said that he had decided to leave out Kuranyi because of the striker's poor form this year while he justified the choice of Jens Nowotny of Bayer Lever kusen.

    Apart from Kuranyi, his Schalke team-mate Fabian Ernst and Werder Bremen's Patrick Owomoyela were among those who have been left out.

    "It hurts the players but we can only name 23," explained Klinsmann, saying he had made very tough telephone calls informing the players of his choice.

    He said he was convinced to have picked the "right players" to succeed in securing a fourth World Cup title for Germany.

    The squad will meet Tuesday in Frankfurt where a 60-minute match against regional side FSV Luckenwalde has been organized before flying to its training camp in Sardinia.

    Michael Ballack, who signed a three-year agreement with English Premiership club Chelsea Monday, will be team leader of the host country's World Cup team, which are as follows:

    Goalkeepers:

    Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart)

    Defenders:

    Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Robert Huth (Chelsea), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Hanover 96), Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Jens Nowotny (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)

    Midfielders:

    Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund), David Odonkor (Borussia Dortmund), Bernd Schneider (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

    Forwards:

    Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04), Mike Hanke (VfB Wolfsburg), Miraslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)

    On June 9, Germany will kick off the world event by playing against Costa Rica in Munich. Enditem