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Laureus nominees announced

February 11, 2015

The World Cup winners, the Mercedes F1 team and a para-alpine skier led the way for Germany as the nominations were revealed for the Laureus World Sports Awards. For Mario Götze, there could be double joy in April.

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Bildergalerie Sportmomente 2014
Image: Reuters/D. Staples

Germany's star football class of 2014 was again thrust into the awards spotlight on Wednesday after Joachim Löw's World Cup-winning squad was nominated for the Laureus World Team of the Year prize.

"It is a great honor to be nominated by the jury for this fantastic prize," said Löw. "This prize honors performances that are important to the whole world."

There was double recognition for Bayern Munich midfielder Mario Götze, who received an additional nod in the World Breakthrough of the Year category for his match-winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final against Argentina.

The world team title was won last year by the all-conquering Bayern Munich side and in 2013 by Europe's victorious Ryder Cup golf team.

Anna Schaffelhuber
Germany's Anna Schaffelhuber dominated sitting skiing events in SochiImage: picture-alliance/dpa

Two-stage decision

A selection panel of sports journalists creates the shortlists for the awards and then a 50-member "jury" of athletes votes to pick the winners, which this year will be announced on April 15 at the Grand Theatre in Shanghai.

In China, Löw's footballers will be up against the Germany-based Mercedes Formula One motorsport team, which won the Constructors' World Championship and carried Britain's Lewis Hamilton to the drivers' title in 2014.

"To be nominated as the best sports team of the year by sports journalists around the world, is something that we are very proud of. It shows that all our hard work has paid off," said Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff.

The other World Team of the Year nominees are Real Madrid for its record 10th Champions League title in 2014, the San Antonio Spurs basketball team, the Swiss Davis Cup tennis team, and the European Ryder Cup Golf team for its latest defeat of America.

In the Sportsperson with a Disability category, Germany's para-alpine skier Anna Schaffelhuber is one of the six nominees, after her clean sweep of five gold medals in the sitting events at the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Games.

pwh/al (SID, AFP)