Germany head coach Hansi Flick has omitted Borussia Dortmund captain Marco Reus from Germany’s World Cup squad, while 2014 World Cup hero Mario Goetze makes a surprise return after a five-year absence.
Flick also chose two uncapped players: Werder Bremen striker Niklas Fuellkrug and Dortmund forward Youssouffa Moukoko, who is 17 years old.
Along with Reus, the squad was missing several high-profile players, including Reus’ Dortmund teammate Mats Hummels and Inter Milan winger Robin Gosens.
Timo Werner, a former Chelsea striker, was ruled out with a leg injury in early November.
Manuel Neuer, the goalkeeper, has overcome recent shoulder issues to be named captain, while veteran Bayern Munich teammate Thomas Mueller has been included despite a back injury that has limited his appearances since late September.
Flick confirmed that Reus would miss the tournament due to an ankle injury sustained in September.
Reus, 33, missed the 2014 World Cup due to a foot injury sustained in the final friendly before departing for South America, and he was also ruled out of the 2016 Euros due to fitness concerns.
Reus made his World Cup debut in Russia in 2018, scoring one of Germany’s two goals as the team was eliminated in the group stage.
Here is Germany’s Full Squad:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (captain) (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona/ESP), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Defence: Armel Bella Kotchap (Southampton/ENG), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Christian Guenter (Freiburg), Thilo Kehrer (West Ham United/ENG), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), David Raum (RB Leipzig/), Antonio Ruediger (Real Madrid/ESP), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Süle (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfield and forwards: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Niclas Fuellkrug (Werder Bremen), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Mario Goetze (Eintracht Frankfurt), Ilkay Guendogan (Manchester City/ENG), Kai Havertz (Chelsea/ENG), Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich).
Photo by EPA/RONALD WITTEK