Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said he had found the right balance in his Euro 2024 selection, saying veteran Thomas Mueller linked the team’s “rappers with the yodellers” while praising man of “steel” Toni Kroos.
Nagelsmann named 27 players for the home tournament, with the squad reduced to 26 following friendlies against Ukraine on 3 June in Nuremberg and Greece four days later in Moenchengladbach.
In the announcement made in central Berlin, near the famous Brandenberg Gate, Nagelsmann said 34-year-old Mueller – who coached at clubs during his time as Bayern Munich coach – had brought the group together.
“Thomas is a connector, he can connect groups. He can connect rappers to yodellers.”
After the coach informed Mueller he was included, the veteran “sent me a funny message – showed me how much we need him around.”
Mueller responded on social media saying he was “very eager for euros in our own country.”
“I’m ready to step up and step on the gas… I’m at the starting line.”
Nagelsmann said that Kroos “may not be 20 anymore” but praised the Real Madrid midfielder’s physique, saying “if you hug Toni Kroos, it feels like he is made of steel”.
Kroos and Mueller, along with goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, remain from Germany’s 2014 World Cup victory in Brazil, but Nagelsmann left fellow world champion Mats Hummels out of the squad.
Hummels and midfielder Julian Brandt were key figures in Dortmund’s run to the Champions League final, where they will face Real Madrid at Wembley in June, but Nagelsmann preferred to stay with the team that defeated France and the Netherlands in March.
Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka was also left out of the hosts’ 27-man squad, while his teammate Serge Gnabry was not considered due to injury.
– ‘We can win the tournament’ –
Eliminated in the group stage of the last two World Cups and in the round of 16 of Euro 2021, three-time Euro winners Germany had a terrible 2023, winning just three of the 11 games that cost then coach Hansi Flick his job.
After defeats against Turkey and Austria at the end of 2023, Nagelsmann called up a much-changed squad for the March friendlies, including signing players from Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen and in-form Stuttgart.
As a result, Germany impressed with wins over 2022 World Cup finalists France and the Netherlands.
“We made few changes to the group because we did well,” Nagelsmann said on Thursday.
“I have a feeling we can win the tournament. And most of the time, my intuition isn’t that bad.”
Nagelsmann has now brought in Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck and Stuttgart goalkeeper Alex Nuebel in place of Heidenheim’s Jan-Niklas Beste and injured Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
Bayern’s Leroy Sane, who missed March’s friendlies through injury, has also been added to the squad.
Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gundogan will remain as captain despite Neuer’s return, which Nagelsmann had already confirmed before the announcement.
The Euros begin on June 14th, with Germany taking on Scotland in Munich.
Germany head to a pre-Europe training camp in the central village of Blankenhain – where England will be based during the tournament – from May 26 to June 1.
Four members of the squad – Dortmund’s Schlotterbeck and Niclas Fuellkrug, along with Real Madrid duo Antonio Ruediger and Kroos – will play in the Champions League final at Wembley on June 1 and will not take part.
Nagelsmann confirmed that the four will join the squad two days after the Champions League final.
German national team
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alex Nuebel (Stuttgart), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona/ESP)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstaedt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid/ESP ), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Fuehrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross (Brighton and Hove Albion/ENG), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona/ESP), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid/ESP), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich ), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Fuellkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal/ENG), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)
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