Host nation Germany will enter this summer’s Euro 2024 tournament as third-favourites to lift the Henri Delaunay Trophy for the fourth time in the nation’s history.
Highly-regarded coach Julian Nagelsmann is tasked with leading a strong squad into battle, and will do so with great confidence, given that Germany are the joint-most successful nation in European Championship history.
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Germany – Key facts
Since their first entry into the competition back in 1972, Die Mannschaft have won it three times and finished as runners up on another three occasions, as part of what is currently a 12-strong streak of tournament appearances.
Three years ago, however, Germany were eliminated in the Round of 16 by England, in what was received as a bitterly disappointing result against the old enemy. However, they might not have long to wait for vengeance, given that England are a possible Round of 16 opponent.
First professional fixture: 1908
Nickname: Die Mannschaft (The Team)
Current FIFA ranking: 16th
Highest FIFA ranking: 1st
Year of Euro debut: 1972
Best Euro performance: Winners (1972, 1980 & 1996)
Player to watch: Florian Wirtz
Full Germany Euro 2024 squad
Mats Hummels, Leon Goretzka, Julian Brandt, Serge Gnabry and Timo Werner – who have amassed nearly 300 caps between them – were notable absentees from the Germany Euro 2024 squad, while ten members of Julian Nagelsmann’s summer roster have collected ten or fewer caps each, giving the squad an experimental look.
Goalkeeper
- Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim)
- Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
- Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart)
- Marc-André ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Defence
- Waldemar Anton (VfB Stuttgart)
- Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig)
- Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
- Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart)
- David Raum (RB Leipzig)
- Toni Rüdiger (Real Madrid)
- Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund)
- Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfield
- Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Chris Führich (VfB Stuttgart)
- Pascal Groß (Brighton)
- İlkay Gündoğan (Barcelona)
- Toni Kroos (Real Madrid)
- Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
- Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich)
- Leroy Sané (Bayern Munich)
- Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Attack
- Maximilian Beier (Hoffenheim)
- Niclas Füllkrug (Borussia Dortmund)
- Kai Havertz (Arsenal)
- Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich)
- Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)
Surprise inclusions in the Germany Euro 2024 squad
Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich)
Midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović became a regular fixture in the Bayern Munich team, following the resumption of the club campaign in Germany after the winter break. But even so, Julian Naglesmann’s decision to bring the 20-year-old to the Euros comes as a major surprise.
Pavlović is uncapped and has had only brief involvement in the German international setup, earning two appearances in the nation’s Under-20 team in 2023. Pavlović did catch the eye in the Champions League knockout phase against Lazio and Real Madrid though, and his performances on that big stage probably turned Nagelsmann’s head.
Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)
Brighton loanee Deniz Undav is one of five Stuttgart players in Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad, though at 27, the attacker is definitely a late bloomer on the international scene. Undav scored 18 times and laid on nine assists in the Bundesliga in 2023/24.
The forward’s superb domestic displays were rewarded back in March, when he won a first German cap against France. Undav is unlikely to feature in the German’s first XI, though he could be a potent weapon off the bench if called upon.
In-form players for Germany
Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Schemer Florian Wirtz has been a mainstay in Xabi Alonso’s Bundesliga title-winning Bayer Leverkusen outfit this season, chipping in with a remarkable 18 goals and 19 assists in all competitions with two matches left to contest.
Wirtz has long been tipped for a career at the highest level and the attacking midfield is finally starting to deliver on his early promise. Having excelled at club level this term, Wirtz could be ready to explode onto the international stage this summer.
Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid)
Dominant 31-year-old centre half Antonio Rudiger has been marshalling the Real Madrid defence with a high level of consistency this season and the former Chelsea man has been an integral part of Los Blancos’ pursuit of honours in Spain and on the continent.
Rudiger – who has won 68 caps for Germany – has been averaging 2.70 clearances per game in both La Liga and the Champions League in 2023/24, and his physical prowess should make him one of the first names on Nagelsmann’s team sheet.
Germany Predicted Euro 2024 XI
Germany vs Scotland
(4-2-3-1) Ter Stegen (GK), Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstadt, Andrich, Kroos, Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz, Havertz
In Germany’s March friendly victories over France (2-0) and Netherlands (2-1), Julian Nagelsmann chose to field the same XI in the same 4-2-3-1 formation, while the same system was deployed in their subsequent draw with Ukraine (0-0) in June. Those matches suggested Nagelsmann has a very definite idea in mind for how he wants to set his team up for their Euro 2024 opener against Scotland. Kai Havertz is likely to be given the nod to spearhead the German attack.
Germany vs Hungary
(4-2-3-1) Ter Stegen (GK), Kimmich, Rudiger, Tah, Mittelstadt, Andrich, Kroos, Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz, Havertz
Germany failed to beat Hungary twice when the teams shared a Nations League group in 2022, however, Nageslmann is unlikely to shift from his attacking principles despite facing a potential banana skin fixture on matchday two in Group A. If their opening salvo against Scotland goes according to plan, few if any changes should be expected to the German XI against the Hungarians.
Germany vs Switzerland
(4-2-3-1) Neuer (GK), Henrichs, Anton, Koch, Raum, Andrich, Pavlovic, Sane, Muller, Undav, Fullkrug
Matchday three in the group stage in any major tournament is usually a hotbed of rotation and if Germany’s first two fixtures in Group A end with victory, Nagelsmann could ring the changes for what would be a dead-rubber final flourish against Switzerland. In that scenario, players like Thomas Muller, Deniz Undav, Waldemar Anton, David Raum and Manuel Neuer will be pushing to start, with several German stars likely to be wrapped in cotton wool ahead of the knockout phase.
