Schweinsteiger, Goetze back for Germany

Bastian Schweinsteiger and Mario Goetze return to Germany's squad, announced Friday, for this month's concluding World Cup qualifiers after injury. The pair figured in coach Joachim Loew's list of 22 players for the games at home against the Republic of Ireland on October 11 and away to Sweden four days later. "I'm thrilled to once again be able to count on the two of them," said Loew. "Bastian, with his leadership qualities, is a very important player for us and Mario, after a long break, needs playing time." If he appears in these two fixtures the 29-year-old Schweinsteiger will join his Bayern Munich teammate Philipp Lahm with 100 caps for his national side. Despite the absence of injured duo Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez, Loew has chosen to overlook Bayer Leverksuen striker Stefan Kiessling in favour of Borussia Moenchengladbach's Max Kruse. Unbeaten Germany lead Group C by five points from Sweden and a win against Ireland will guarantee them a place at the finals in Brazil. Germany squad Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Hamburg), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96) Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal/ENG) Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid/ESP), Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller (both Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal/ENG), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sidney Sam (Bayer Leverkusen), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea/ENG), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich) Striker: Max Kruse (Borussia Moenchengladbach) Source: AFP