FRANKFURT, Germany -- Germany coach Joachim Loew made several surprise inclusions in his preliminary 30-man World Cup squad on Thursday, with established regulars such as Mario Gomez missing out. Loew named relatively unknown players such as Sampdoria defender Shkodran Mustafi, Borussia Dortmund defender Erik Durm, Augsburg attacking midfielder Andre Hahn, Hoffenheim striker Kevin Volland, and Schalke midfielders Max Meyer and Leon Goretzka, 18 and 19 respectively. None have made any appearances for the senior side. Freiburg midfielder Matthias Ginter, who made his debut against Chile in March, was also named. "We need young dynamic players like those who perhaps only recently played themselves into contention. They can inject fresh impetus into the side," said Loew, whose team was booed by its own fans during the lacklustre 1-0 win over Chile. The average age of the side is 24.8 years, and Loew, who was assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann before taking over after the 2006 World Cup, feels he has struck the right balance between youth and experience. "Many players are used to high-pressure situations from playing in the Champions League, they can live with it," Loew said. "Our foreign-based players also profit from establishing themselves abroad. That brings them further on a sporting level. Generally we have a good mix in the squad." Gomez, who has 25 goals in 59 games for Germany, missed out due to a left knee injury after a season blighted by injuries at Fiorentina. "He was injured for seven months, only played 280 minutes since September," Loew said. "So I formed the opinion that he isnt in a position physically to cope with the conditions in Brazil. There was also no place for Borussia Moenchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen or former Germany No. 1 Rene Adler. "We didnt make any decisions against any players but for those who would maximize potential of the squad. Were very sorry for the players who didnt make it," Loew said. Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller and Hannovers Ron-Robert Zieler will deputize for current No. 1 Manuel Neuer of Bayern Munich. Loew said he picked the players based on current form and fitness but made an exception in selecting midfielder Sami Khedira, who has yet to play for Real Madrid since having knee surgery last November. Bayern contributes seven players to the squad, more than any other side, with Dortmund boasting six. Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Toni Kroos and Mario Goetze lead the Bayern contingent, while Marco Reus, Mats Hummels and Marcel Schmelzer are among the best known Dortmund players. Arsenal trio Mesut Ozil, Per Mertesacker and Lukas Podolski were all included. "Behind each of these names is a clear yes," Loew said. "Well have to send some of them home and of course that will lead to disappointment but those players will have contributed to German football and they can be proud of that." Loew has until May 13 to submit a squad of no more than 30 players to FIFA, with the deadline for the final 23-man squad on June 2. Due to the German Cup final between Bayern and Dortmund in Berlin on May 17, Loew named a separate 18-man squad for Tuesdays friendly against Poland in Hamburg with eight first-time call-ups. These included Meyer, Goretzka and Volland, as well as Freiburgs Oliver Sorg and Christian Guenter, Antonio Ruediger of Stuttgart, Christoph Kramer of Moenchengladbach and Wolfsburg attacking midfielder Maximilian Arnold. Four other players were previously called up but have yet to earn their debuts: Mustafi, Hahn, Sebastian Jung of Eintracht Frankfurt and Sebastian Rudy from Hoffenheim. "Its clear to all of us that the team on the pitch in Hamburg wont be the team playing the World Cup in Brazil," Loew said. "We want to look beyond the World Cup. Some of the players can be influential figures in the big tournaments to come." In Brazil, Germany hopes to get off to a good start against Cristiano Ronaldos Portugal, before a reunion with Klinsmann, now in charge of the United States, and another game against Ghana, when half-brothers Kevin-Prince and Jerome Boateng will renew their World Cup rivalry on opposing sides. ------ Squad: 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 (Sampdoria), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund) Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Schalke), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Leon Goretzka (Schalke), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), 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) Matt Milano Jersey . 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Iguodala tormented his former team with a game better than any he ever played in eight seasons with the 76ers.HAMILTON - Montreals up-and-down season ended painfully Sunday, cut short one game shy of the Grey Cup by mistakes and poor execution.Hamilton kick-returner Brandon Banks literally left Alouette players twisting in the wind on two punt returns for touchdowns — three if you count a 78-yard romp for a score called back for holding in the first quarter.The Tiger-Cats, who scored two more touchdowns on the back of Jonathan Crompton interceptions, went on to win the CFL East Division final 40-24 on a surprisingly balmy 10-degree day at Tim Hortons Field.Losing coaches usually say how proud they are of their players. But Montreals Tom Higgins had reason to after seeing his team claw its way back up the standings as the season wore on.From where we started, to turning it around to be able to get here, its heart-wrenching to not be able to finish, Higgins said.Montreal (9-9-0) started the season at 1-7-0 but finished on an 8-2-0 run before thumping B.C. 50-17 in the Eastern semifinal.We wrote a really neat story, Higgins added. It didnt have a storybook ending but it was still a really neat story. I hope when the athletes reflect back, they look upon it as Wow, we really did something this year. This was a journey for a lot of us young guys, for sure, said linebacker Bear Woods, who had a game-high 13 tackles.There was some brave talk along the way from the Als, especially in the leadup to Sundays game. Some Montreal players talked of victory being inevitable while others disparaged some of the Hamilton players they would face.There was no such banter after the game. The Montreal dressing room was silent, full of big men giving each other hugs of disappointment.The 60-year-old Higgins, in the nicest possible way, suggested there were lessons to be learned on the subject of talking too freely.My personal opinion is you let your actions do your talking for you, he said.Because, he added, when you say something, you better back it up ... if you dont do what you say youre going to do, then you dont look very smart. Wide receiver Duron Carter, who had 75 receptions for 1,030 yards during the regular season, had just three catches for 25 yards Sunday. He did not haul in his first ball until early in the third quarter and that was negated by a penalty. He eventually beat glove-like cornerback Delvin Breaux to register a catch with two minutes left in the quarter.Carter was also flagged for both objectionable conduct and unnecessary roughness and admitted he lost control.Its a helpless feeling when you dont get the ball, he said.You live and your learn, he added. I was frustrated. Im part of the reason we lost.Montreals inability to stop Banks was particularly painful for Higgins, who doubles as speccial teams coach.dddddddddddd Higgins said he hadnt planned to take on that role when hired.I chose to do it because there really wasnt anybody else. And Ive had help, he said.He said there would likely be some restructuring to come.Higgins said Banks success was the product of fine play by the diminutive Ticat returner and poor execution by his special teams.The Als were well-positioned to stop the second Banks TD return, he argued,.We had guys standing there, he said. It was almost like Casper the Ghost because it looks like we were just grasping for air and he wasnt there. Im not sure we could have put ourselves in any better position to make the play. But guys didnt make the play.Kicker Sean Whyte found himself defending his day at the office.We knew he was a threat, he said of Banks. But we have very good athletes on the punt cover squad. So Im just doing what Im told and kicking the ball where Im told to put it. Its up to the rest of the guys and me to make the tackle.Crompton, who took over as quarterback midway through the season, completed 25 of 38 passes for 314 yards (his first 300-yard plus outing) and three touchdowns. But he also threw three interceptions.The jurys still out, Higgins said of his young quarterback. But he has a winning record and going into training camp next year, he would be the No. 1 quarterback.Said Crompton: Obviously I made a few mistakes. Youve just got to learn from then. Unfortunately theres no tomorrow for us this year. But I give a lot of credit to our guys. There was no quit. Everybody busted their tails until the end on all three sides of the ball.Montreal led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter but went in at the half trailing 20-14. Mistakes cost the Als with Hamilton scoring touchdowns via a five-yard Nic Grigsby run, after a Crompton interception and a glorious 93-yard Banks punt return for touchdowns.The Tiger-Cats led 27-17 going into the fourth quarter. But Crompton pulled the Als within three with a 63-yard strike to S.J. Green at 4:54 of the final quarter.A pair of Justin Medlock field goals sandwiched around an 88-yard Banks punt return killed off the game.We just didnt make the plays when we had to, said Green, who finished with three touchdowns. We made some plays but just not enough.Injuries did not help the Montreal cause. Safety Marc-Olivier Brouillette was s