Germany coach Joachim Low revealed his final 23-man squad for Euro 2016 and there was one shocking absentee. Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus has failed to make the squad after failing to prove his fitness to the medical staff.
Reus had also missed Die Mannschaft’s 2014 FIFA World Cup triumph in Brazil due to a broken foot. This will be the second international tournament he will miss as the world champions travel to France looking to win the title they last won 20 years ago in 1996 when it was held in England.
Skipper Bastian Schweinsteiger, who was also a doubt, has made the squad in spite of missing the final stages of the season for Manchester United after suffering a knee injury in March. The Red Devils midfielder had torn his medial collateral ligament and was assessed before he was picked in the squad.
Medical staff unsure if Reus will be fit for Euro: Low
Speaking at a press conference, Germany coach Joachim Low said Reus’s omission was a huge blow and explained why he did not make the cut.
“[Marco] Reus can only run straight now,” Low said at a press conference. “He could do no more in training.
“The medical staff was sceptical that he would be fully fit.”Reus’s adductor muscles were inflamed and the news comes as a bitter pill to swallow on his 27th birthday.
“It's a bitter decision for him and us. He would be a major gain for our team if he was fit.”
Low had initially named a 27-man squad earlier this month and other players who failed to make the final squad are Karim Bellarabi, Julian Brandt (both Bayer Leverkusen) and Sebastian Rudy (Hoffenheim).
Mats Hummels also made the squad in spite of concerns over his fitness. The defender had torn his calf muscle in the final game of the season when Borussia Dortmund lost to Bayern Munich in the DFB Cup final.
“[Mats] Hummels and [Bastian] Schweinsteiger will be available during the tournament,” Low explained. “Schweinsteiger will resume training today, Mats needs a few more days.”
Germany’s 23-man squad for Euro 2016
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Bernd Leno (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Emre Can (Liverpool), Jonas Hector (FC Koln), Benedikt Howedes (FC Schalke), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund/Bayern Munich), Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia), Antonio Rudiger (AS Roma)
Midfielders: Julian Draxler (VfL Wolfsburg), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich),Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Galatasaray), Andre Schurrle (VfL Wolfsburg), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United), Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund)
Forwards: Mario Gomez (Besiktas), Mario Gotze (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (FC Schalke)
