Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has sprung a Theo Walcott-style selection surprise by naming uncapped Borussia Dortmund striker David Odonkor in his squad for this summer's World Cup.

The 22-year-old has been called up to the hosts' set-up for the very first time, although Klinsmann revealed he had been part of his plans for a while now.

"I guess it will come as a surprise that David Odonkor is in the squad, but he has been part of our thoughts for a long time," explained Klinsmann.

"We have left him out up to now intentionally as we thought it may be too much for him at a young age to have all the pressure."

Chelsea's new signing Michael Ballack will captain the side on home soil, while new team-mate Robert Huth is also included.

Arsenal's Jens Lehmann has won the battle with Oliver Kahn to start the finals as Germany's number one, while former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, now at Stuttgart, is in the 23-man squad.

The Germany squad for the 2006 World Cup is:

Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Timo Hildebrand (Stuttgart); Robert Huth (Chelsea), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Monchengladbach), Per Mertesacker (Hannover), Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich); Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Thorsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund); Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Gerald Asamoah (Schalke), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Mike Hanke (Wolfsburg), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach), David Odonkor (Borussia Dortmund).