Low: Kuranyi will not be in squad

Low: Kuranyi will not be in squad

Germany coach Joachim Low has confirmed that Schalke striker Kevin Kuranyi will not be in his World Cup squad this summer.

Kevin Kuranyi has been missing since 2008.

Kuranyi has been ostracised by Low since storming away from the Westfalenstadion in Dortmund before the final whistle after being omitted from the matchday squad for the qualifier against Russia in October 2008.

His form for Schalke this season has led to calls for a recall, with even Franz Beckenbauer urging Low to swallow his pride and take the Brazil-born forward to South Africa.

Low, though, has admitted Kuranyi would not be included in the preliminary squad he names next Thursday.

''The disciplinary incident in October 2008 was not a consideration recently,'' Low said in a press release from the German Football Association (DFB). It would have been no problem for us to give him a new chance in the national team.

''However, after consideration among our coaching staff we came to the conclusion that we had other ideas, tactically and personnel-wise, for the composition of the World Cup squad. This I discussed today frankly with Kevin, who has had a strong season and whom I think is a player of sound character.''

Kuranyi was desperately disappointed not to be going to the World Cup.

''Like every footballer, I dreamed from when I was a little boy of being able to play in a World Cup,'' the striker, who also missed out on a place in Jurgen Klinsmann's squad for the 2006 tournament, wrote on his official website. ''This dream has now burst for a second time. Therefore it is clear that this decision makes me very sad.

''I gave my best. I know that I blundered when I left the stadium at half-time against Russia. Therefore I apologised for that personally and publicly. And I have also given everything sporting-wise this season. Unfortunately that has not sufficed. But it is the decision of national coach, and I accept and respect it. Of course I wish the coach and the team the best for South Africa.''

Meanwhile, Kuranyi's agented has suggested that his client will leave Schalke at the end of the season.

"He will move on for sure," Wittmann told ZDF television. "He is going to sign his contracts on his own and has the final say, but I definetely cannot imagine him staying on at Schalke 04."

Kuranyi has a host of clubs chasing him as his contract expires in the summer, with the likes of Manchester City and Sunderland showing an interest. Dinamo Moscow and Turkish giants Fenerbahce and Besiktas, however, appear to be in pole position to sign him.