Just under two months and then the time has come: the 2024 European Championships in Germany. The group divisions have now been announced, the schedule has been completed and so it is now up to the national coaches to make decisions. Which 23 (or 26) players will they take with them to the final tournament, and who will they leave at home? This will be announced no later than June 7, but zoom will take place in the coming period Football zone in advance about the options that the national coaches of the most important countries have. In this edition: Germany.

The Germans have had a number of difficult years. They did not survive the group stage at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, and the 2021 European Championship ended for Germany in the eighth finals. England was too strong 2-0.

A new wind is now blowing in Germany. Joachim Löw left as national coach after fifteen years, and after his successor Hansi Flick failed to deliver, Julian Nagelsmann has been the new national coach since the end of last year. His term started somewhat disappointingly, with defeats against Turkey (2-3) and Austria (2-0). However, during the last international match, Germany achieved impressive victories: 0-2 against France and 2-1 against the Netherlands.

The three-time European champion wants to continue that line next summer. At the European Championships in their own country, Nagelsmann's men will first meet Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland in the group stage. Which players will be part of the Germany squad? Football zone looks ahead.

Goalkeepers

For a period of more than ten years, Manuel Neuer was the undisputed number one under the German bar. However, after the disappointing 2022 World Cup, the goalkeeper broke his leg while skiing and has not played a game for Germany since. He has now recovered from the broken leg, but during the last international match he dropped out again, this time due to a muscle tear.

That is why Marc-André ter Stegen was in charge last year that National Elf, and he did so duly. However, it is expected that he will have to settle for a place on the bench again next summer, as Nagelsmann seemed to hint last month that Neuer will remain number one.

Fulham goalie Bernd Leno also seems to have a good chance of joining us, although Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim) can also continue to hope.

Options: Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim), Bernd Leno (Fulham), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-André ter Stegen (FC Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt).

Marc-André ter Stegen seems to have to settle for a reserve role again now that Manuel Neuer has recovered from injuries.

Defenders

Germany has received a lot of criticism in recent years after its early elimination from the various final tournaments, partly because of a lack of scoring ability. Yet our eastern neighbors also sometimes look very vulnerable defensively.

With players like Antonio Rüdiger and Joshua Kimmich, Nagelsmann has quite experienced players at his disposal, but looking at the selection for last month's friendlies, the national coach is also considering a number of players who are much less experienced. For example, left back Maximilian Mittelstädt, who was in the selection for the first time during the last international match, and was immediately in the starting line-up against both France and the Netherlands.

It is clear that a player like Jonathan Tah – who is having a great season with Bayer Leverkusen – should be one of the first names on the scoresheet. Well-known names such as Mats Hummels, Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck seem much less certain of a place in the European Championship selection.

Options: Waldemar Anton (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Süle (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Malick Thiaw (AC Milan).

A wonderful season for Jonathan Tah: national champion with Bayer Leverkusen and probably a starting place at the European Championship.

Midfielders

Toni Kroos is available again for the German team, after he indicated that he would end his international career after the European Championship in 2021. Last month against France he played his first international match in more than 2.5 years, and after just seven seconds he had an assist to his name.

Kroos is also very important at his club Real Madrid this season, and it is therefore expected that he can count on a starting spot at the European Championships next summer. That also seems to apply to a player like Ilkay Gündogan.

Furthermore, Nagelsmann has a luxury problem. Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala played on the wings against France and the Netherlands, but that also had to do with the absence of players such as Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané. If they are there again next summer, it promises to be an interesting battle.

Experienced midfielders such as Julian Brandt and Leon Goretzka were not present during the last international match, so the question is whether they will be present at the European Championship. Bayern Munich talent Aleksandar Pavlovic (19) was selected for the first time, but had to drop out due to inflamed tonsils.

Options: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ilkay Gündogan (FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) , Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen).

Ilkay Gündogan is of great value in Germany's midfield.

Attackers

Germany has been missing a real world-class number nine in recent years. With Niclas Füllkrug and Thomas Müller, Nagelsmann can call on a real striker, but the question is whether those two players will start at the European Championship.

During the international matches against France and the Netherlands, Kai Havertz was in the striker, and against the former country he paid off that confidence with a goal. However, Havertz could also play in other positions, for example as an attacking midfielder or as a winger.

Sané was missing during the last international match due to a suspension after he received a red card against Austria. He will most likely be there again next summer. Whether this also applies to Gnabry remains to be seen: he is having a difficult season at Bayern Munich, and was not called up by Nagelsmann in March. Lately, however, he has been able to find the net for his club more and more regularly.

Options: Maximilian Beier (TSG Hoffenheim), Jan-Niklas Beste (FC Heidenheim), Chris Führich (VfB Stuttgart), Niclas Füllkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart).

Niclas Füllkrug scored the winning goal in the friendly against the Netherlands in March (2-1), and will probably be in the European Championship selection next summer.

Probable setup

Nagelsmann has tried different formations in the past six months, but the expectation is that Germany will play in a 4-2-3-1 formation at the European Championship. The start against France and the Netherlands was also done in this way, with the same eleven players in the starting line-up in both matches.

However, there appear to be a few changes in the Germans' starting eleven. Players like Neuer and Sané were missing during the last international match, but are expected to be back next summer. They therefore seem to be able to count on a starting spot.

That could well be at the expense of Ter Stegen and Wirtz. However, most of Germany's starting line-up appears to be similar to that against France and the Netherlands.

Probable European Championship line-up Germany: Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt; Kroos, Andrich; Sane, Gundogan, Musiala; Havertz.

Important absentees

At the moment there are no contenders for the German selection who (are at risk of) missing the European Championship. Nagelsmann will hope this remains the case in the coming months so that he can take all the key players with him.

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