Klinsi Looks to Blend Experience With Youth

German national coach Jürgen Klinsmann has left the door open for experienced internationals Markus Babbel and Dietmar Hamann to make a late bid to board the plane for the 2006 World Cup.

Klinsmann surprised many people by including both players in a 33-man provisional squad that will be culled to 20, for the friendly match with Slovenia in Celje on March 26. VfB Stuttgart defender Babbel, 32, has not played for the German national team for five years winning the last of his 51 caps in Germany's 1-0 defeat by England in Euro 2000.

A year later Babbel, then at Liverpool, contracted the potentially life-threatening nerve illness Guillain-Barre Syndrome but has bounced back with Bundesliga side Stuttgart. "We are very impressed how he has overcome this severe illness and become a key player at Stuttgart," explained Klinsmann. "Markus will improve in the build up to the World Cup and is in our thoughts."

Liverpool midfielder Hamann, 31, has been overlooked by his country since the disastrous Euro 2004 finals in Portugal when Germany failed to win a single match and crashed out at the first group stage.

Hamann looking for World Cup swan song

Hamann, with over 50 caps to his name, now has the chance to show Klinsmann he has one big tournament left in his ageing legs. "Hamann is an established player and when I took over he knew that he would not be picked as we wanted to take a look at younger players," explained Klinsmann.

Since taking over Klinsmann has put an emphasis on youth handing debuts to players in their early twenties such as Chelsea defender Robert Huth, Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger and Christian Pander of Schalke 04.

But 1990 World Cup winner Klinsmann knows experience is vital in big tournaments and may feel Babbel and Hamann can help guide his crop of inexperienced internationals.

Deisler ready for yet another comeback

Another player looking to get his international career out of the blocks once again is Bayern Munich's Sebastian Deisler.

The Bayern midfielder, still struggling to make a full recovery from depression and injury, has been left out of recent German friendlies. However, scoring recently for Munich in their championship push has once again alerted Klinsmann to the diminutive playmaker's latent strengths.

Neuville joins list of hopeful strikers

Borussia Mönchengladbach striker Oliver Neuville also looks set to feature in the squad, almost a year after his last internationals appearance in April 2004.

"He's one of six strikers we're planning on for the World Cup next year," Klinsmann said, adding Kevin Kuranyi, Miroslav Klose and Gerald Asamoah were currently ahead of the former Bayer Leverkusen attacker in the forward rankings. FC Cologne's prodigious talent Lukas Podolski and Wolfsburg's Thomas Brdaric are also in the running.