The 19-year-old was one of three 2.Bundesliga players included with Monchengladbach team-mate Oliver Neuville and Cologne's Patrick Helmes also selected in a 26-man squad which will be reduced to 23 after a training camp in Majorca, which commences on Monday.

"He has something special, an incredible quality in a one-on-one situation and we did not have a player like him," said Low of Marin.

The diminutive midfielder has played an important role in Monchengladbach's promotion season but was surprised to be handed the chance to showcase his talents in Austria and Switzerland this summer.

"If six months ago somebody had said to me that I could legitimately hope of being at Euro 2008, I would have declared them crazy," he told the Express newspaper.

"Usually as a player in the second division, you are not in the public eye.

"Although the opponents will be a lot stronger, I know I can help any team with my dribbling skills and deadly passes, so why can I not make it in the national team."

The surprise omission was Valencia goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand, who was previously regarded as the main challenger to Arsenal stopper Jens Lehmann.

In place of Hildebrand, Low selected Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler, who has yet to win a cap.

"Obviously we know what a decision like this means to the players and how they feel," explained Low.

"They were all disappointed and Hildebrand particularly so.

"I decided that for this tournament I wanted a player who had better perspectives for after it too."

In midfield, the names of Schalke's Jermaine Jones, who has just one previous call-up, and Real Betis' David Odonkor, who last played just after the 2006 World Cup, did not figure in many squad predictions.

Both have had serious injuries this season and only returned to their respective club sides in the last few months.

Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder was also named in the squad, but his fitness will be assessed with a final decision over his participation due to be taken when the final 23 players are named on May 28.

"We want to exhaust all of our options," added Low.

"That is why we chose one or two extra players.

"With the nominations, this is the beginning of the European Championships for us.

"We are delighted it is finally starting."