Germany rest big guns for USA

Frankfurt - Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, forward Thomas Muller and midfielder Toni Kroos have been left out of Germany's squad for the upcoming friendly against the United States and the European Championship qualifier against Gibraltar.

The three key members of Germany's World Cup-winning team are being rested after a busy season, according to coach Joachim Low.

In addition, Neuer has "several injuries" that need to be treated over the upcoming weeks, Low said. The coach wants Mueller and Kroos to be ready for key qualifying matches in the fall.

Defender Benedikt Hoewedes is out with an ankle injury, while forwards Marco Reus and Julian Draxler are on call.

Both have injury-plagued seasons behind them.

Midfielder Patrick Herrmann could make his Germany debut. He was in the squad once in March 2013 but did not play.

Germany plays the United States in Cologne on June 10 and then travels to Faro, Portugal, to face Gibraltar three days later.

The squad:

Goalkeepers: Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia), Antonio Ruediger (Stuttgart), Sebastian Rudy (Hoffenheim)

Midfielders: Karim Bellarabi (Bayer Leverkusen), Ilkay Gundogan (Borussia Dortmund), Patrick Herrmann (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Inter Milano), Andre Schurrle (Wolfsburg), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Max Kruse (Borussia Moenchengladbach)