Frings Out, Young Guns In

Werder Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings has been left out of Germany coach Joachim Loew's 20-man squad to face England in a friendly next Wednesday in Berlin.

Captain Michael Ballack has also been sidelined for the match after undergoing a foot operation last month.

Loew will use the England friendly to field three Bundesliga up-and-comers -- Defender Marvin Compper and midfielder Tobias Weis from TSG Hoffenheim and VfL Wolfsburg defender Marcel Schaefer.

Also going into the match uncapped is Bremen goalie Tim Wiese, who will likely be backup keeper behind Rene Adler from Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen.

"We want to use the last match of the year to try out a few things and to have some impressions for next year. The three newcomers have deserved their nomination through their performance," said Loew.

Frings ordeal

Frings fell out of favor with Loew after accusing his coach of lacking respect for veteran players after the former was dropped for World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales last month.

It was the first time the 31-year-old had not made the cut during his international career.

Ballack also attacked Loew over the issue, but, like Frings, soon after apologized for his comments.

After resolving their differences, Frings said he and Loew had agreed it would be best for the team if he sat out the England clash.

"We agreed that I won't be there. I told the coach during our meeting last week it would be better if I don't come," Frings told Kicker sports magazine.

Loew told the German football federation Web site on Thursday he would “plan without him," but added that Frings would figure in national team plans next year provided he has "good preparation and good form."

Ins and outs

Ballack, meanwhile, has resumed training after foot surgery in mid-October, but was deemed to have had too long a break to make the cut for next Wednesday's match.

Philipp Lahm, Clemens Fritz, Marcell Jansen and Christian Pander are also missing for health reasons.

Of the three newcomers, Schaefer, 24, looks most likely to receive his first cap in defense, with established rearguards Lahm, Jansen and Pander out of contention.

Compper, 23, could also be used on the left side or as a central defender. His Hoffenheim teammate Weis, also 23, could be "an alternative for the established players in midfield," Loew said.

Despite not appearing on the park next Wednesday, Ballack, Frings and Lahm will nonetheless be with the team on match night. Loew is slated to use the opportunity to lay down some rules and guidelines on how he expects his players to behave for the duration of the qualification campaign for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

"There will be a speech to clarify a few issues," said the coach. Bonuses for successful qualification are also to be discussed by players and the national federation DFB.