Brazil-born striker Cacau has been dropped from Germany’s squad for the upcoming European Championship in Poland and Ukraine.

Cacau was in the Germany team at the World Cup in South Africa two years ago.

His absence means Germany travels to the tournament with only two strikers, Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose.

Coach Joachim Loew also cut goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and midfielders Sven Bender and Julian Draxler.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover)

Defenders: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Mario Goetze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Guendogan (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Oezil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Marco Reus (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Andre Schuerrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Lazio)

Cech signs new four-year deal with Chelsea

Petr Cech has signed a new four-year contract with Chelsea, tying the Czech Republic goalkeeper to the European champions until 2016.

Cech said: “I hope the next four years will be as successful as the last eight years I have been at the club.”

Since joining the Premier League team from French side Rennes in 2004, Cech has made 369 appearances and won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and two League Cups.

He saved three penalties in the Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich this month, one in extra time and two in the shootout to help Chelsea to a first title.

Chelsea chief executive Ron Gourlay said yesterday that “Petr continues to perform as well as any goalkeeper in the world.”