Germany Manager Nagelsmann’s Euro 2024 Selection Raises Eyebrows
Germany’s national football coach Julian Nagelsmann has stirred the pot with his latest selection for the 2024 Euros. The main talking point of the squad announcement was the exclusion of key Borussia Dortmund players, Mats Hummels and Julian Brandt, despite their significant contributions to Dortmund’s current Champions League campaign.
Nagelsmann announced a largely unchanged squad, choosing to stick with the players that secured impressive victories over footballing giants France and the Netherlands in March. This decision has certainly raised eyebrows, particularly as Hummels, a 2014 World Cup winner, and midfielder Brandt have been instrumental in Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final, where they are set to face Real Madrid.
Notable Exclusions and Inclusions in the German Squad
In addition to the Dortmund duo, Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka was also left out of the hosts’ 27-man squad. His teammate Serge Gnabry was not considered due to injury. However, it’s not all disappointment for Bayern Munich, with Leroy Sane, who missed the March friendlies through injury, being included in the squad.
After a disappointing 2023, which saw Germany win just three of 11 games, Nagelsmann has been proactive in making changes. He has brought in players from Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and in-form Stuttgart. Among the new faces are Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck and Stuttgart goalkeeper Alex Nubel, who replace Heidenheim’s Jan-Niklas Beste and injured Fulham keeper Bernd Leno.
The announcement made in downtown Berlin also saw the inclusion of three members from Germany’s 2014 World Cup winning squad: goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, forward Thomas Mueller, and midfielder Toni Kroos. Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will remain the squad’s captain despite Neuer’s return.
Germany’s Euro 2024 Schedule
The Euro 2024 campaign kicks off on June 14, with Germany taking on Scotland in Munich. Prior to this, the team will head to a pre-Euro 2024 training camp in the central village of Blankenhain from May 26 until June 1.
However, four members of the squad will be unable to attend the training camp due to their commitment in the Champions League final. Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck, Niclas Fuellkrug, and Real Madrid duo Antonio Ruediger and Toni Kroos will join the squad two days after the Champions League final. Germany will play two pretournament friendlies, facing Ukraine on June 3 in Nuremberg and Greece four days later in Moenchengladbach.
Conclusion
Despite the tumultuous recent years, Germany enters the Euro 2024 with a mix of experience and fresh faces. The decision to exclude certain key performers has been met with surprise, but Nagelsmann seems to have a clear strategy in place. Only time will tell whether these decisions will pay off, but one thing is certain; football fans worldwide will be keenly watching Germany’s campaign in the Euro 2024.
