Germany axe just ONE player from their Euro 2024 squad, as tournament hosts confirm selection for what they hope will be Toni Kroos’ dream ending
- Host nation Germany have announced their final 26-man squad for Euro 2024
- One player was removed from the 27-man provisional squad on Friday
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Germany have announced their final 26-man squad for Euro 2024, with manager Julian Nagelsmann dropping one more unlucky player from his squad.
The hosts took a different approach to most countries, naming a provisional squad of 27 players, while England had 33.
This meant that only one was cut and that man was one of four goalkeepers.
Stuttgart stopper Alexander Nubel will leave the team, which ends their tournament preparations for the European Championship on home soil against Greece on Friday evening.
Speaking about his upcoming decision on Thursday, Nagelsmann said: ‘we have our starting XI in mind, but the performance in the match and in training has to match.
Julian Nagelsmann has announced his final selection of 26 men for the European Championship
Goalkeeper Alexander Nubel (right) from Stuttgart was the unlucky player who missed the ball
‘On the whole the decision on the selection has been made but I will not announce it nor talk to those affected because in the worst case scenario someone gets injured tomorrow and the affected player has to sneak back in and it would be foolish to to have that conversation now. ‘
“The decision has actually been made, we will announce it tomorrow after the match,” he said.
The Germans are looking for their first major international title in a decade after a disappointing run since winning the 2014 World Cup and kick off the European Championship on June 14 with their opening match against Scotland in Group A.
They also play Hungary and Switzerland in their group as they hope Toni Kroos gets the perfect send-off to his retirement.
‘We are on track. We are reaching 100%,” Nagelsmann said, adding that forward Kai Havertz was their likely starting striker over Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Fuellkrug.
‘We are happy that Fuelle (Fuellkrug) is back. It’s good that we still have a striker in the team,” said Nagelsmann.
Fuellkrug joined the team this week following Dortmund’s Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid on Saturday.
Germany will play their final warm-up match for the tournament against Greece on Friday
‘The roles are clear. If Kai performs, he has an advantage. He has to perform. Fuelle will get his playing time and can score goals and make waves.’
‘Nothing is set in stone. You have to perform to get it set in stone,” Nagelsmann said.