Germany coach Rudi Voeller has included Sebastian Deisler in his 23-man World Cup squad, announced today, despite doubts about the inspirational midfielder's fitness.
Deisler, who has hardly played since last October, only returned to action with his Hertha Berlin club on Saturday.
The gifted 22-year-old, who will play for Bayern Munich next season, had just recovered from knee surgery when he tore a thigh muscle in training last month.
Voeller also called up Hertha Berlin defender Marko Rehmer, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, in a squad with no major surprises.
Bayern Munich midfielder Mehmet Scholl pulled out last month because he was not fully fit while Bayer Leverkusen central defender Jens Nowotny was ruled out with a knee injury sustained in last week's 1-1 draw with Manchester United that sent his team through to the Champions League final.
Several hopefuls will be left behind, among them Werder Bremen's versatile defender Frank Baumann and midfielder Lars Ricken from newly-crowned German champions Borussia Dortmund.
Bayern Munich striker Carsten Jancker was selected despite the fact that he has not scored a goal in the Bundesliga this season. TSV 1860 Munich's Martin Max, joint top scorer in the German first division with 18 goals, was left out because he has virtually no international experience.
Dortmund, who play Feyenoord in the UEFA Cup final in Rotterdam on Wednesday, and Bundesliga runners-up Bayer Leverkusen have five players each in the squad with only four from Bayern.
The triple world champions will fly out to their base in Japan on May 22, nine days before the start of finals, which are being co-hosted by South Korea. They meet Cameroon, Republic Of Ireland and Saudi Arabia in group E.