Berlin: Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann picked uncapped David Odonkor for his 23-man World Cup squad on Monday and dropped striker Kevin Kuranyi.
Klinsmann also selected experienced defender Jens Nowotny to shore up his shaky defence.
The 32-year-old Nowotny has not played for Germany since the 2004 European Championship, before Klinsmann's time as coach.
Odonkor, an attacking midfielder with Borussia Dortmund, had been expected to be a member of Germany's under-21 squad this summer.
"He gives us something we need badly, speed and an element of surprise. He can break down the flanks quickly," Klinsmann said. "We've been watching him a long time and he is a great talent.
"He was really surprised, to say the least, when I called him this morning," Klinsmann said.
Odonkor had only one goal and five assists in 33 games for Dortmund this season, but got attention for his speedy runs down the right flank.
"This is almost incredible," Odonkor said in a statement posted on the German soccer federation's website.
"The coach has been watching out for young players this season and that's why I managed to get into the World Cup at the last moment."
Klinsmann has been promoting young players since he took over the team after Euro 2004, with Nowotny now becoming the exception to the rule.
In another surprise, Klinsmann dropped midfielder Fabian Ernst and defender Patrick Owomoyela.
But he picked striker Mike Hanke, who was often only a reserve for Wolfsburg and who is suspended for the first two games of the World Cup because of a red card he received at the Confederations Cup last year.
"He is a player with a lot of drive, who plays with a lot of enthusiasm. He worked hard to earn his place and he deserved it," Klinsmann said.
Kuranyi, who was a regular member of the team at the start of Klinsmann's era, has gone into a slump at Schalke in recent months.
"Kevin has had problems this year and that is only natural," Klinsmann said. "We are fully convinced that these are the best we have. Our goal is to be in the World Cup tournament until the end and we are confident that we can do it with this squad."
Arsenal's Jens Lehmann, recently promoted to No. 1 goalkeeper over Oliver Kahn, will miss the team's first preparation stage in Sardinia because he is playing in the Champions League final on Wednesday against FC Barcelona.
He will join the squad when it moves to Geneva, where it will stay from Sunday to May 30.
Klinsmann also picked two injured players, defender Christoph Metzelder and midfielder Sebastian Kehl, both of Borussia Dortmund.
Kehl has an ankle injury and is expected to start training this week, while Metzelder is nursing a torn calf muscle and will start practicing with the team in Geneva, although he will undergo rehabilitation in Sardinia.
Kuranyi, Ernst and Owomoyela were among six players on standby.
Germany, a three-time World Cup champion, kicks off the month long tournament on June 9 in Munich against Costa Rica. Ecuador and Poland are also in Group A.
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