Germany V Rep. Ireland

The Republic of Ireland face a tough first Euro 2008 Group D qualifying game against this year's World Cup hosts Germany in Stuttgart.

The game shouldn't prove to be as daunting as some fear given the return of the excellent Robbie Keane and Damian Duff from injury.

Yesterday Ireland Coach Steve Staunton announced his 23-man sqaud to face Germany in their first trip in the current Euro 2008 campaign to be played on September 2nd.

Last time out Ireland were thumped 4-0 by the Netherlands but had many players missing. And Staunton is obviously more than happy with the return to fitness of some of his players:

'I'm delighted to have the boys available to me after their recent injuries, they are regular members of the squad and it's vital that we have everyone we can available to us for this tough test.' he said

New Germany coach has a few suprises for his first competitive squad announcement. Ballack is expected to return after injury although Metzelder is still a doubt.

Germany squad:

Goalkeepers:
Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart)
Jens Lehmann (Arsenal FC)

Defenders
Malik Fathi (Hertha BSC Berlin)
Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC Berlin)
Manuel Friedrich (1. FSV Mainz 05)
Marcell Jansen (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München)
Christoph Metzelder (BV Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders:
Michael Ballack (Chelsea FC)
Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen)
Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen)
Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart)
David Odonkor (BV Borussia Dortmund)
Bernd Schneider (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)

Forwards:
Gerald Asamoah (FC Schalke 04)
Mike Hanke (VfL Wolfsburg)
Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen)
Oliver Neuville (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach)
Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München)

Staunton has pre-empted the German Coach Joachim Loew's squad by announcing his own:

Goalkeepers:
Shay Given (Newcastle United)
Wayne Henderson (Brighton)
Paddy Kenny (Sheffield United)

Defenders:
Andy O'Brien (Portsmouth)
Richard Dunne (Manchester City)
Stephen Carr (Newcastle United)
Steve Finnan (Liverpool)
Stephen Kelly (Birmingham City)
Gary Doherty (Norwich City)

Midfielders:
Kevin Kilbane (Everton)
John O'Shea (Manchester United)
Steven Reid (Blackburn Rovers)
Graham Kavanagh (Wigan Athletic)
Liam Miller (Manchester United)
Jonathan Douglas (Blackburn Rovers)
Stephen Ireland (Manchester City)
Damien Duff (Newcastle United)

Forwards:
Aiden McGeady (Celtic Glasgow)
Stephen Elliott (Sunderland)
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Kevin Doyle (Reading)
Clinton Morrison (Crystal Palace)
Alan O'Brien (Newcastle United).