Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann watched as his initial European Championship squad was announced for him by a variety of people reflecting the mix in German society on Thursday.
Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel was the only new name among the 27 called out in a video message featuring students, TV presenters, singers, döner kebab chefs, radio presenters and others.
“Super troop. Could be from me. But it’s our squad,” Nagelsmann said at the end of the video shown at a glitzy press conference in sponsor Volkswagen’s showroom on Berlin’s Unter den Linden boulevard, The AP reported.
“It was great,” Nagelsmann said of the unusual announcements. “That's how we involved many people, an experience that's very important for the team, that can show the path to success in our home tournament.”
Nagelsmann is keeping faith with the shakeup he initiated in March before the friendly matches against France and the Netherlands. Both games yielded wins, boosting confidence before Germany hosts the tournament next month. Nagelsmann clearly saw no need to change a winning team too much.
There was no return for Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels or Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka despite their strong finishes to the season, but Hummels’ club teammate Nico Schlotterbeck is back for the first time since last September. Hummels and Schlotterbeck helped Dortmund reach the Champions League final against Real Madrid on June 1.
Schlotterbeck and Dortmund teammate Niclas Füllkrug will join Germany late because of their involvement in the final, as will Madrid’s Toni Kroos and Antonio Rüdiger, who were also nominated for the tournament.
“It will make the training a bit harder because they're players that are envisaged for the starting lineup, players that are important for the team," Nagelsmann said of Kroos and Rüdiger. “I'd prefer if players are successful and play great games and come with a lot of confidence.”
Most of the squad was “leaked” by the federation through various outlets in the days before, though the unusual confirmations also led to some confusion. Thomas Müller, for example, suggested on Instagram that he was included before it was confirmed by the federation.
Müller, who has played 128 games for Germany, is the most experienced player in the squad, followed by Bayern Munich teammate Manuel Neuer (117 appearances) and Kroos (108).
Nagelsmann, who said he's taking four goalkeepers to the tournament, will need to reduce his squad by one before he finalizes it.
The German soccer federation also announced that Nagelsmann's coaching staff extended their contracts through the 2026 World Cup, putting them in line with Nagelsmann, who extended his contract last month.
Germany hosts Euro 2024 from June 14 to July 14. Nagelsmann’s team begins its tournament preparations in Blankenhain, central Germany, from May 26-31 before moving to Herzogenaurach, Bavaria, on June 1.
Germany warms up with friendlies against Ukraine in Nuremberg on June 3, and Greece four days later in Mönchengladbach.
The host nation gets the tournament underway against Scotland in Munich. It then plays Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19 and Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23.
“I already have the idea that we can win this thing, that we can gain faith in winning it,” Nagelsmann said.
