The 30-year-old Leon Goretzka, who hadn’t played for since November 2023 and missed last summer’s home tournament, was included in the 23-man squad announced by national team coach Julian Nagelsmann on Thursday.
Germany are to face Italy in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals on March 20 and 23. The recall will come as something of a vindication for the midfielder, who has been in fine form for of late – after reportedly having being told by the club last summer to look for a new employer.
Replacements required
Also working in Goretzka’s favor was the fact that Nagelsmann found himself looking for replacements for Kai Havertz, , Marc-André ter Stegen, Niclas Füllkrug, Benjamin Henrichs, and Aleksandar Pavlovic, who are all either injured or ill.
“Although we have to cope with a few absences, we generally have a very good squad. We have opted for these players out of conviction and have tried to replace the quality that has been lost with quality…with players who are keen to play,” the coach said in a statement on the DFB’s (German Football Association) website.
Inter Milan defender Yann Aurel Bisseck, 24, has been named to the Germany squad for the first time, while Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri is set to make his return after an absence of more than four years.
Winner to host Final Four
Should Germany get past Italy, they will enter the UEFA Nations League Final Four, which would be hosted by Munich and Stuttgart. The two semifinals are scheduled for June 4 and 5, with the final and third-place match taking place on June 8. Should Italy advance, the Final Four would be hosted by Turin.
Edited by: Kyle McKinnon
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