Berlin (dpa) – Pavao Pervan, have you heard of it? Or Fredrik Jensen? How about Darko Curlinov? When the European Football Championship kicks off on June 11th, fans could come across these names on the many TV broadcasts.
Because the trio belongs to a total of 91 players from the two German top leagues that take part in the EURO. This emerges from the roster of the 24 EM participants, who are official after the registration period has expired.
DFL boss speaks of the “Bundesliga brand”
The 1st and 2nd Bundesliga have never had such a large contingent. In 2016 there were 65 players, although at that time the national coaches were only allowed to nominate 23 instead of 26 players. When DFL boss Christian Seifert speaks of the “Bundesliga brand”, he can certainly speak of an increased status in international comparison. German football recorded an increase from 11.7 to 14.6 percent of EM players. Only England have more EM participants with 146 players. Italy (75) and Spain (43) follow behind Germany.
As expected, the largest contingent from the Bundesliga comes from champions Bayern Munich with 14 players, including eight DFB players. For comparison: For the first time, there is not a single player from record champions Real Madrid in the Spanish national team. Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach are also well represented with ten players each.
16 Euro players from Manchester City
Champions League finalist Manchester City achieved the top value overall with 16 EM players. With the exception of Arminia Bielefeld, every Bundesliga team is represented at the EM. Fortuna Düsseldorf even sends two players from the 2nd division to the tournament.
Among the 91 participants are some well-known returnees such as world champions Thomas Müller and Mats Hummels. In the top favorite France, star striker Karim Benzema is making his comeback at the side of young star Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezman or Paul Pogba. Of course, the superstar Cristiano Ronaldo from defending champion Portugal or Bayern’s world footballer Robert Lewandowski from Poland should not be missing on the big stage.
Many stars are just spectators
But it would also be easy to put together a powerful team with players who are only spectators this time. For example with Marc-André ter Stegen in goal, Sergio Ramos, Virgil van Dijk and Jérôme Boateng in defense and on the offensive with Marco Reus, Erling Haaland, Ansu Fati or Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
But there are new faces like the Dortmund Jew Bellingham. The 17-year-old is only three and a half months short of the youngest European Championship participant, this honor goes to Poland’s Kacper Kozlowski from Pogon Stettin. Anyway, eight English national players are 23 years old or younger, which should give the football motherland hope for the future. By the way, the oldest player is the Dutch goalkeeper Marten Stekelenburg at the age of 38.
Austria with 21 players from German leagues
The Bundesliga is represented in 19 of the 24 EM teams. Most of the players with a German employer are not from the DFB team, but from Austria with 21 players. Joachim Löw relies on 17 professionals from the domestic league from Manuel Neuer to Leroy Sané.
And Pervan? The Austrian works as a substitute goalkeeper at VfL Wolfsburg. The Finn Jensen played 13 times for FC Augsburg this season – and the young Curlinov is part of the offensive department of VfB Stuttgart.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210602-99-834084 / 4
– .
