Unprecedented shake-up: Six newcomers in Germany squad for friendlies

Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann on Thursday nominated six newcomers in an unprecedented squad shake-up for friendlies against France and the Netherlands in the Euro 2024 build-up, while veterans Manuel Neuer and Toni Kroos return.

Bayern Munich's teen-aged midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic, Heidenheim defender Jan-Niklas Beste, Hoffenheim forward Maximilian Beier as well as the VfB Stuttgart trio of defenders Waldemar Anton and Maximilian Mittelstädt plus forward Deniz Undav got their first call-up.

The 26-player squad that gathers on Monday in Frankfurt for the games on March 23 in Lyon against France and three days later in Frankfurt against the Dutch also includes uncapped Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.

Nagelsmann had suggested changes after poor results last year, and there was no place for the likes of Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka, Union Berlin's Robin Gosens, Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp, and Borussia Dortmund players Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Süle and Julian Brandt.

Goalkeeper Neuer of Bayern returns from a year on the sidelines with a leg fracture, and Real Madrid midfielder Kroos is coming out of three years of international retirement to help the team.

Another 2014 World Cup winner, Thomas Müller, was retained, while his Munich team-mate Leroy Sane is suspended.

Nagelsmann told a news conference that "a majority of the players we have now will also be in the squad for the Euros" which hosts Germany open in three months' time on June 14 against Scotland, with Hungary and Switzerland the other group stage opponents.

But he also said that "the door is not closed for the players who weren't nominated now. I told that all of them on the phone."

Nagelsmann announced "a clear distribution of roles" for the Euros with 13 to 14 core players and youngsters behind them who are also to create a good atmosphere.

"We have a few seeded players in mind and a few challengers," he said.

The coach said that Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah from Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen are his first choice centre backs, and that Hummels was not "an ideal" back-up candidate.

Nagelsmann also confirmed that Barcelona midfielder Ilkay Gündogan will remain captain despite the return of long-time skipper Neuer.

Germany went out in the group stage of the last two World Cups, and in the last 16 of the last Euros. The team won only three of its 11 games in 2023, ending the year with defeats against Turkey and Austria, and a turnaround is needed for the Euros.

Nagelsmann said last month there would be surprises as he said he wants to change the mentality of the team.

The shake-up is not without risks as the two friendlies are the last matches before Nagelsmann is set to announce his provisional Euros squad in mid-May. Two more tune-up games are to follow in the final countdown to the Euros.

Germany squad:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Bernd Leno (Fulham), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona)

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (VfB Stuttgart), Jan-Niklas Beste (Heidenheim), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Führich (VfB Stuttgart), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ilkay Gündogan (Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim), Niclas Füllkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)