The first call-up of Bayern midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic and the return of Madrid player Toni Kroos are the main novelties on the list of German coach Julian Nagelsmann for the friendlies against France and the Netherlands on March 23 and 26.
Kroos had announced on July 2, 2021 his retirement from the German national team, with which he had played 106 games, with 17 goals.
In the list of 26 there are notable absences, such as that of Leon Goretzka, and six players appear who could celebrate their debut with the senior team.
Thus, in addition to Pavlovic, Waldemar Anton, Maximilian Mittelstadt and Deniz Undav, all from Stutgart, Maximilian Beier, from Hoffenheim, and Jan-Niklas Beste, from Heidenheim, are called up for the first time.
Barcelona player Marc-André ter Stegen also appears.
The return of Kroos had recently been announced by the player himself while the call-up of Pavlovic – who has been Bayern’s revelation this season – was expected in the midst of the fight between the German Football Federation (DFB) and the Serbian Federation to secure the services of the player who has both nationalities.
«With regard to Alex I want to make something clear, this is not a political call. This is a decision made based on his performance. I am glad that he wants to play for Germany but if he had told me that he preferred to play for Serbia I would have respected it and would not have insisted,” said Nagelsmann.
In addition to the six potential debutants, there are six players who had not been in the squad in the November matches that ended in defeats against Turkey and Austria.
In addition to Kroos, Manuel Neuer, who had been out due to injury, returns to the squad, along with Chris Führich, Robin Koch, Bernd Leno, and Jamal Musiala.
– The list of 26 players is as follows:
Porteros: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Bernd Leno (Fühlham), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona).
Defensas: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Jan-Niklas Beste (Heidenheim), Benjamin Henrichs (Bayer Leverkusen). Joshua Kimmich (Bayern), Robin Koch (Eintracht Fráncfort), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid). Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen).
Centrocampistas: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Führich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross, Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen).
Delanteros: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Füllkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Müller (Bayern), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart). EFE
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