Jogi Low makes changes to Germany World Cup roster

Germany announced their preliminary World Cup roster last week, but they have already made a change. Jogi Low has decided to remove Andre Hahn from the team and add Christoph Kramer, giving him a new 30 players to choose from when he picks his final 23-man roster.

In addition to adding Kramer, Low said that Max Meyer, Leon Goretzka and Marcell Jansen would not be with the team at World Cup training camp, effectively cutting the pool to 27 players. Meyer and Goretzka are two of the brightest young players in Germany, but it would be tough to justify including them over any of the stars Germany have to fill out their team.

All of the usual big names are on the team, with Manuel Neuer in goal and Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marco Reus, Tony Kroos, Sami Khedira, Mario Goetze, Julian Draxler and the rest of Germany's absurdly talented midfield. Miroslav Klose is still int he team, giving them a big presence up front along with Kevin Volland, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller.

The big question for Germany is in defense, where they have issues at center back. Jerome Boateng, Per Mertesacker and Benedikt Howedes are fine center backs, but none are excellent. The one man who could be dominant in the center -- albeit with the risk of the occasional horrific error -- is Mats Hummels, but he is not at full fitness after suffering a serious injury so his status is in question.

The United States will play Germany in their final match of the group stage, by which time Germany may have clinched a spot in the knockout stages. The Germans are the overwhelming favorites in the group and the Americans were lucky to draw them last, when they may have taken their foot off the pedal some.

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Genoa), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Monchengladbach), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich)