After weeks of anticipation and excitement, Julian Nagelsmann has finally released the Germany squad for the upcoming European Championship.
Nagelsmann showcased his ruthless side by excluding some big names, including Borussia Dortmund veteran Mats Hummels and Bayern Munich veteran Leon Goretzka.
In their stead, Nagelsmann opted to go with some of the young and exciting talents such as Chris Fuhrich, Max Beier and Aleksandar Pavlovic.
Two Barcelona players make the list
The 24-man squad features two Barcelona players, with Nagelsmann making no mistake in recognising Barça’s only two German stars.
The players in question are Ilkay Gundogan and Marc-Andre ter Stegen, both of whom will provide some much-needed experience to the table, in an otherwise young German side.
Unser Kader für die #EURO2024 in Deutschland! 🇩🇪
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— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) May 16, 2024
Ter Stegen, for his part, will compete with Manuel Neuer for a place in between the sticks. The competition could go down to the wire, though Nagelsmann is likely to go for the veteran.
Gundogan, meanwhile, is expected to play a central role in Germany’s midfield. Along with Toni Kroos, the Barcelona star is one of the main veterans in the team looking to provide the balance between experience and youth exuberance.
Gundogan is likely to be a regular starter in midfield as well, especially with Joshua Kimmich now being considered as a defensive option. The former Man City star should easily move ahead of Robert Andrich and Pascal Gross, as far as the midfield is concerned.
Gundogan, who has served as Germany’s captain in the past, will play a key role in providing creativity in midfield while his ability to orchestrate possession will be vital in helping Germany control matches.
