Germany leave four huge players out of preliminary Euro 2024 squad as Julian Nagelsmann shows ruthless side
Germany manager Julian Nagelsmann has left four hugely experienced players out of his preliminary squad for Euro 2024.
Germany are the host nation this summer and are third-favourites to win the tournament behind England and France.
Nagelsmann's task of picking a squad for the Euros was made easier last month when UEFA voted to increase squads from 23 to 26 players.
He has now named a preliminary 27-man squad, which one player set to drop out before the final deadline for squads on June 7.
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His announcement has thrown up a number of surprises, with several experienced players left out.
Mats Hummels, 35, has not be included despite his impressive form for Borussia Dortmund, who will face Real Madrid in the Champions League final on June 1.
Hummels was also part of the Germany squad that won the World Cup in Brazil in 2014.
There is also no place for forward Timo Werner, who has managed just two Premier League goals since joining Tottenham on loan from RB Leipzig in January.
Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka has also been left out after struggling for form with the Bundesliga giants.
Meanwhile, his club teammate Serge Gnabry has also been left out by Nagelsmann.
Gnabry was ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a hamstring tear in Bayern's 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the Champions League earlier this month.
He is now set to miss the Euros, a major blow for the host nation as they look to win the competition for a record fourth time.
Speaking on his decision to leave Hummels and Goretzka out of the squad, Nagelsmann squad: "I had long conversations with both of them. They're very disappointed, that's understandable.
"I had problems with these conversations before as a club coach, it's not nice. I didn't like doing that. You would like to take everyone with you. In the end, as head coach, I have to make a decision in the interests of the team.
"They did everything to be there. I tried to explain why they weren't included. It's understandable that they are sad. They weren’t bad conversations, but of course there are more pleasant conversations in life."
Germany face Ukraine and Greece in friendlies next month ahead of the tournament.
They will then take on Scotland in the opening game on June 14, with Nagelsmann's side facing Hungary (June 19) and Switzerland (June 23) in their other group matches.
Germany's preliminary squad for Euro 2024
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann, Manuel Neuer, Alexander Nubel, Marc-Andre ter Stegen
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Benjamin Henrichs, Joshua Kimmich, Robin Koch, Maximilian Mittelstadt, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah
Midfielders: Robert Andrich, Chris Fuhrich, Pascal Groß, Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, Jamal Musiala, Aleksandar Pavlovic, Leroy Sane, Florian Wirtz
Forwards: Maximilian Beier, Niclas Fullkrug, Kai Havertz, Thomas Muller, Deniz Undav
Topics: Germany, Euro 2024, Mats Hummels, Serge Gnabry, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Timo Werner, Julian Nagelsmann
Rory O'Callaghan