BERLIN (AP) - 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 Nubel was the only new name among the 27 called out in a video message featuring students, TV presenters, singers, doner 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.
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.
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Schlotterbeck and Dortmund teammate Niclas Fullkrug will join Germany late because of their involvement in the final, as will Madrid's Toni Kroos and Antonio Rudiger, who were also nominated for the tournament.
Most of the squad had been "leaked" by the federation through various outlets in the days before, though the unusual confirmations also led to some confusion. Thomas Muller, for example, suggested on Instagram that he was included before it was confirmed by the federation.
Muller, 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).
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 plays Ukraine in a friendly in Nuremberg on June 3, and Greece four days later in its final tune-up in Monchengladbach.
Germany plays Scotland in Munich. It then plays Hungary in Stuttgart on June 19 and Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23.
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Germany:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstädt (Stuttgart), David Raum (Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Fuhrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Groß (Brighton), Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards:
Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
CIARAN FAHEY
Fahey is a Berlin-based reporter for The Associated Press, covering sports in Germany and beyond.
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