Gomez recall, Sane fast-track hint at Germany blend for Euro 2016
Published:
Jamie Clark, Sports Editor | November 8, 2015
Returning Gomez has games under his belt
World Cup holders Germany have recalled 30-year-old centre forward Mario Gomez for their end of year friendlies against France and the Netherlands, as Joachim Low begins to prepare for Euro 2016 in earnest.
Coral rate Die Mannschaft their 10/3 favourites to add to their global crown with the European Championship next summer, and their headline squad selections typify the blend of youth and experience which is so essential in successful sides.
Gomez, now playing in Turkey with Besiktas, has taken the Super Lig by storm, scoring eight in 10, and he’s joined in the international setup by first-time senior call-up Leroy Sane – yet another teenage talent off Schalke’s production line.
Earning just three caps since Euro 2012 and none in competitive matches, largely due to a poor fitness record, Gomez’s Germany career was thought to be finished by many commentators. Fiorentina farming him out on loan to Istanbul has benefited both parties, with the Viola topping Serie A.
Sane selected and chance taken on Trapp
Sane, 19, like Gomez is only half-German, but was born in the country to a native mother and former Senegal international father, Souleymane. His three goals in seven Bundesliga starts on the wing, and five strikes for Schalke in all competitions, see him promoted from Die Mannschaft’s Under-21 setup.
PSG goalkeeper Kevin Trapp is also included on Low’s roster for the first time, and that reinforces the strength in depth behind Germany number one Manuel Neuer with Barcelona stopper Marc-Andre ter Stegen rested.
While Marco Reus, Benedikt Howedes and Mario Gotze are all injured, the omissions of Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos and Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil raises questions. The latter leads the Premier League assists table, while deeper-lying Kroos takes Die Mannschaft corners.
Low retains midfield experience in the form of Germany skipper Bastian Sschweinsteiger and Sami Khedira, with centurion attacker Lukas Podolski keeping his place. Antonio Rudiger, loaned by struggling Stuttgart to Roma, returns among the defensive options.
Ever-evolving Die Mannschaft
Having lost record scorer Miroslav Klose up front and fellow hundred-cap club members Per Mertesacker and captain Philipp Lahm from defence, as all three called time on their international career following 2014 World Cup glory, it has not been plain sailing for Germany since.
Low’s lads dropped eight points in Euro 2016 qualifying, edging neighbours Poland to secure top spot by a single point in Group D. British Isles duo Scotland and the Republic of Ireland, who could still make the tournament finals, joined the Poles in pinching points off Die Mannschaft.
Klose’s absence has been more than covered by Bayern Munich marksman Thomas Muller, netting nine in qualifying through his canny knack of being in the right place at the right time. Such positional play and poaching on instinct is an essential and long-standing tactic of German strikers.
Full Germany squad to face France and the Netherlands
Goalkeepers: Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Kevin Trapp (PSG), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover).
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Munich), Matthias Ginter and Mats Hummels (both Borussia Dortmund), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia), Antonio Rudiger (Roma, on loan from Stuttgart), Sebastian Rudy (Hoffenheim).
Midfielders: Emre Can (Liverpool), Julian Draxler (Wolfsburg), Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Christoph Kramer (Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United).
Forwards: Karim Bellarabi (Leverkusen), Mario Gomez (Besiktas, on loan from Fiorentina), Max Kruse and Andre Schurrle (both Wolfsburg), Thomas Muller (Munich), Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray), Leroy Sane (Schalke), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim).
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