By Hosts Germany have confirmed their preliminary 27-man squad for this summer’s European Championship.
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann will have to cut the squad to 26 before Germany play Scotland in the opening game of the tournament on June 14.
Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos is set to play in his first major tournament since Euro 2020 after the 34-year-old reversed his decision to retire from international football.
Teenager Aleksandar Pavlovic — one of six Bayern Munich players to be called up — and Maximilian Beier are the only uncapped players.
Jamal Musiala, Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Joshua Kimmich complete Bayern’s contingent.
There is, however, no place for Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka.
Likewise, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has not been included despite helping his side to this season’s Champions League final.
Hummels’ Dortmund team-mates Emre Can and Karim Adeyemi have also been omitted.
Germany begin their campaign in Group A against Scotland before facing Hungary and Switzerland for a place in the round of 16.
Germany squad
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart, on loan from Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross (Brighton), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart, on loan from Brighton)
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‘Few surprises for Nagelsmann’
Analysis by Sebastian Stafford-Bloor
The last international break went so well for Julian Nagelsmann that there were never likely to be many surprises. In those games against France and Netherlands, a tentative vision emerged of what this team could look like under Nagelsmann. They were fast, forward-thinking, meritocratic in composition. RB Deutschland in style? Sort of.
The Stuttgart component of Chris Fuhrich, Waldemar Anton, Maximilian Mittelstadt, and Deniz Undav all make it, deservedly. Bayern Munich teenager Aleksandar Pavlovic makes the cut, too, and despite seemingly being at the expense of Leon Goretzka, that is also the correct decision.
Pavlovic is more of a Nagelsmann ‘type’ – he is a habitual forward passer who will be valuable support to Toni Kroos during the tournament.
Nico Schlotterbeck has been included, but not Mats Hummels. Again, that was to be expected. Nagelsmann has said previously that Hummels is not really suited to having a back-up role, so that was more a squad chemistry call. Schlotterbeck has reassured in his recent performances in the Champions League.
The forward line is still probably the squad’s area of weakness. Still, Niclas Fullkrug has shown himself capable of scoring at the highest level. Hoffenheim’s Max Beier deserves his chance after a good season in an average TSG team.
And Kai Havertz will start the tournament as first-choice (false) No.9, having established an intriguing chemistry with Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, who will play as duel No 10s.
Nagelsmann has also named a provisional 27. But expect four goalkeepers to become three when the squad is trimmed, and for Oliver Baumann or Alex Nubel to miss out.
