Germany Euro 2024 squad: Who Julian Nagelsmann has selected for the tournament hosts

For over a decade, Manuel Neuer has been the presumed No.1 for Germany heading into major tournaments, but after the Bayern Munich veteran suffered a potentially career-threatening leg injury in the aftermath of the 2022 World Cup, Marc-Andre ter Stegen was given the chance to step up and performed well.

Since Neuer’s return, Nagelsmann has been non-committal in naming his starting goalkeeper for the Euros, but both will be involved in the tournament. They will be joined by either Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann or Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel.

A fair criticism of Germany’s recent tournament struggles has been their inability to find the net consistently, but this hasn’t exactly been a tight defensive unit, either.

There is, to be sure, some experience to be found with Antonio Rudiger at centre-back and Joshua Kimmich at right-back, but Nagelsmann’s omission of Mats Hummels means he will not be able to rely upon one of Europe’s most in-form veterans.

In Hummels’ place, Jonathan Tah should partner Rudiger – and rightly so after turning in a series of top performances with Bayer Leverkusen.

Kroos’ decision to come out of international retirement has naturally grabbed the headlines in Germany. The Real Madrid star has been at his metronomic best for Los Blancos this season, turning in countless superb performances to control a humming side, and will surely start this summer.

Right now, it seems like Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich will join Kroos at the base of the Germany midfield. Further forward, meanwhile, Ilkay Gundogan will play in one of the more advanced roles, likely alongside Jamal Musiala and Leverkusen standout Florian Wirtz.

Bayern youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic could force his way into contention, however, having earned a first call-up for the March friendlies before pulling out due to injury.

Germany have lacked a true, world-class No.9 for a number of years, and the responsibility to lead the line is likely to fall on Niclas Fullkrug’s shoulders at the Euros, as the Dortmund man has been preferred to Thomas Muller in recent camps (although Muller has made the squad).

Kai Havertz could come into contention, given his performances for Arsenal have improved of late. His best position is up for debate, though, and Nagelsmann might prefer a more natural striker through the middle.

Nagelsmann hasn’t quite figured out his best formation yet. He used a back three against Austria in November, before switching to something resembling a Red Bull-esque 4-2-2-2 in a defeat to Turkey.

In March, though, a 4-2-3-1 proved immensely effective, with Kroos and Andrich forming an exciting double pivot, allowing room for an exciting attacking trio to run riot behind Fullkrug. That could well be Nagelsmann’s first-choice team come June.

Germany XI (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Raum; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Fullkrug.

Naglesmann has made a couple of big calls ahead of the tournament, most notably with Hummels. A week removed from a match-winning performance against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, the Borussia Dortmund defender has been left out amid reports that his attitude to being a substitute would likely have caused problems during the tournaments.

Similar concerns were expressed around Leon Goretzka, while Julian Brandt and Karim Adeyemi also failed to make the cut. A hamstring injury, meanwhile, rules Serge Gnabry out.