Mueller and Hunt earn Germany call-up for friendlies

BERLIN, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Bayern Munich midfielder Thomas Mueller and Werder Bremen’s Aaron Hunt were included in the Germany squad for friendly matches against Chile and Ivory Coast later this month, the soccer federation (DFB) said on Friday.

Germany, who have qualified for next year’s World Cup in South Africa, face Chile in Cologne on Nov. 14 before playing Ivory Coast in Gelsenkirchen four days later. Both opponents are also through to the World Cup finals.

Mueller, 20, has had a stunning season at Bayern so far, grabbing a starting-spot in only his first full season with the team.

Hunt, 23, whose rapid rise to the senior team in 2004 was followed by injury-plagued seasons, has scored five goals in 11 league matches this term.

“Thomas should be with us for three four days to get a feel for the atmosphere of the national team. Aaron has been very consistent this season and has taken a step forward,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said.

Loew also recalled striker Stefan Kiessling, whose goals this season have helped Bayer Leverkusen top the Bundesliga.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Defenders: Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Jerome Boateng (Hamburg SV), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Marcel Schaefer (VfL Wolfsburg), Serdar Tasci (VfB Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04);

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Christian Gentner (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Aaron Hunt (Werder Bremen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV);

Strikers: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).

(Writing by Karolos Grohmann; Editing by Justin Palmer

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