Findland match will be Man United midfielder's testimonial
Friday 26 August 2016 15:57, UK
Hoffenheim defender Niklas Sule is the new name in Germany's first squad selection since Euro 2016, with the 20-year-old part of a 24-man group which includes Bastian Schweinsteiger for his testimonial.
Max Meyer and Julian Brandt, who were silver medallists in Germany's Olympic Games' team a week ago, have also been included for the friendly with Finland next Wednesday and opening 2018 World Cup qualifier against Norway four days later.
"Max Meyer and Julian Brandt have already been with us while we wanted to get to know Niklas better," said Germany coach Joachim Low.
"The trio have deserved this call with their performances. I think they will also see this as a motivation and incentive to continue performing consistently well.
"We hope to see them take the next step in their development as they have great potential.
"As a general rule, the door to the national team is open and I am sure that over the coming months, more players will be given a chance by us."
Schweinsteiger will lead the team out onto the field in Monchengladbach next week for what will be his final appearance in a Germany shirt, having announced his international retirement.
"We're losing our captain and also a leading pillar of our team," Low said. "He was extremely important for us both on and off the field, and for me personally.
"He will leave a void behind, but we have many established, experienced players and I expect and also know that they will take on more responsibility.
"We want to bid farewell to Basti and thank him, together with the fans, with one final appearance for the national team.
"He's done great service to Germany, German football and our team. The game against Finland will also serve as preparation for our qualifier against Norway, though."
The injured Ilkay Gundogan, Antonio Rudiger and Marco Reus will miss out, as do Jerome Boateng, Mario Gomez, and Leroy Sane, who have all been omitted despite remaining firmly in Low's plans for the future.
Boateng had been hoping to inherit Schweinsteiger's captain's armband, but Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks likely to lead Germany onto the field in Oslo on September 4.
Mario Gotze is included, although he is a doubt having already been ruled out of Borussia Dortmund's first Bundesliga game of the season this weekend due to injury.
The squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Bernd Leno (Bayer Leverkusen), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona)
Defenders: Emre Can (Liverpool), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke) Mats Hummels, Joshua Kimmich (both Bayern Munich), Shkodran Mustafi (Valencia), Niklas Sule (Hoffenheim), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Karim Bellarabi, Julian Brandt (both Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Wolfsburg), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Max Meyer (Schalke), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Andre Schurrle, Julian Weigl (both Borussia Dortmund), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Manchester United)
Forwards: Mario Gotze (Borussia Dortmund), Kevin Volland (Bayer Leverkusen)
