© Reuters 2002

BERLIN, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Germany coach Rudi Voeller has called up newcomer Arne Friedrich to his squad for a friendly international against Bulgaria next week.

Defender Friedrich, 23, has just joined Hertha Berlin from promoted Arminia Bielefeld and played his first Bundesliga match in Hertha's 2-2 draw with defending German champions Borussia Dortmund last Friday.

"Arne has put in great performances in the second division last season as well as with Germany's under-21 team and he's not in the squad by accident," Voeller said as he unveiled his squad on Thursday in Frankfurt.

Voeller is otherwise relying mostly on familiar faces for Germany's first outing since they lost 2-0 to Brazil in the World Cup final on June 30 in Yokohama.

The former international striker included 15 members of Germany's World Cup squad in his 20-strong group for the match next Wednesday in Sofia.

Defender Ingo Hertzsch and midfielders Daniel Bierofka and Paul Freier missed the trip to South Korea and Japan but all had been tested prior to the finals.

SURPRISE RUN
Bayern Munich striker Alexander Zickler also returns after recovering from the calf injury that ruled him out of the World Cup.

"We're starting all over again from scrap," said Voeller, who was given much of the credit for Germany's suprise run to the World Cup final.

"What happened at the World Cup does not count any more and young players will keep getting chances to prove their worth," he added.

Voeller has to make to do without several injured players, among them midfielder Sebastian Deisler and defenders Jens Nowotny and Christian Woerns, for Germany's last warm-up game before they kick off their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign away to Lithuania on September 7 in Kaunas.