WUSA stars Maren Meinert and Steffi Jones, who had retired from the German women's national team following its home triumph two years ago at the European Championship, have returned to the team for the upcoming Women's World Cup.

Meinert, the 2003 WUSA MVP with the Boston Breakers, and Jones, a critical component of the Washington Freedom's championship side, were among 20 players Germany coach Tina Theune-Meyer announced Monday for the Sept. 20-Oct. 12 world championships in the United States.

The additions of Meinert and Jones greatly strengthens a team that must be, at the very least, considered co-favorites with the host Americans.

Forward Inka Grings, a 1999 World Cup veteran who is coming back from a knee injury, was the most glaring omission from the team. Sandra Smisek and Pia Wunderlich, who also have had recent injuries, are on the roster.

The Germans possess two outstanding forwards in Meinert and Carolina Courage star Birgit Prinz, a deep, experienced midfield, and veteran leadership at the back and in the nets.

Twelve players return from the 1999 World Cup roster — goalkeepers Silke Rottenberg and Nadine Angerer, defenders Sandra Minnert, Kerstin Stegemann and Ariane Hingst, midfielders Jones, Smisek, Wunderlich, Bettina Wiegmann and Renate Lingor, and forwards Meinert and Prinz — and defender Stefanie Gottschlich played in the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Wiegmann, who has announced her retirement following the tournament, will be making her fourth World Cup appearance. She is Germany's all-time caps leader, with 147.

Prinz (103) and Stegemann (100) also have topped the century mark, and Minnert (95) figures to do so during the World Cup.

Six current or former WUSA players are on the roster: Meinert, Jones, Prinz (Carolina), Wiegmann (ex-Boston), Minnert (Washington) and forward Conny Pohlers (Atlanta).

The youngest players on the roster are 19-year-old defender Linda Bresonik and 20-year-old forward Martina Mueller, who has scored 17 goals in 32 international appearances.

Germany meets Canada (Sept. 20 at Columbus), Japan (Sept. 24 at Columbus) and Argentina (Sept. 27 at Washington) in Group C play in the World Cup. A potential semifinal showdown with the U.S. team could materialize for Oct. 5 in Portland.

The roster:

Goalkeepers
Nadine Angerer (FFC Turbine Potsdam), 24 years old, 27 caps/0 goals
Silke Rottenberg (FCR 2001 Duisburg), 31, 82/0

Defenders
Linda Bresonik (FCR 2001 Duisburg), 19 years old, 17 caps/2 goals
Sonja Fuss (FFC Brauweiler Pulheim), 23, 18/0
Stefanie Gottschlich (VfL Wolfsburg), 24, 32/2
Ariane Hingst (FFC Turbine Potsdam), 24, 78/8
Nia Kuenzer (FFC Frankfurt), 23, 27/1
Sandra Minnert (FFC Frankfurt/Washington Freedom), 30, 95/9
Kerstin Stegemann (FFC Heike Rheine), 25, 100/3

Midfielders
Kerstin Garefrekes (FFC Heike Rheine), 24 years old, 18 caps/4 goals
Steffi Jones (FFC Frankfurt/Washington Freedom), 30, 74/5
Renate Lingor (FFC Frankfurt), 27, 77/14
Viola Odebrecht (FFC Turbine Potsdam), 20, 10/0
Sandra Smisek (FSV Frankfurt), 26, 81/19
Bettina Wiegmann (FFC Brauweiler Pulheim), 31, 147/48
Pia Wunderlich (FFC Frankfurt), 28, 78/18

Forwards
Maren Meinert (Boston Breakers), 30 years old, 85 caps/29 goals
Martina Mueller (SC 07 Bad Neuenahr), 23, 32/17
Conny Pohlers (FFC Turbine Potsdam/Atlanta Beat), 23, 12/8
Birgit Prinz (FFC Frankfurt/Carolina Courage), 24, 103/52

All ages as of Sept. 20