Mueller, Hummels recalled by Germany for Euro 2020 finals

Germany head coach Joachim Loew on Wednesday named Thomas Mueller and Mats Hummels in the 26-man provisional German squad for the Euro 2020 finals, ending the pair’s two-year exile.

“Back again,” Mueller, 31, posted on Twitter underneath a picture giving the thumbs up.

Hummels, 32, also reacted, on Instagram: “I am glad to be back   I’m really up for the new chapter”.

However, there was no recall for Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng, who was also axed by Loew in March 2019 alongside Mueller and Hummels.

Loew said he did not regret binning Mueller and Hummels two years ago to give younger players a chance in the wake of the disastrous 2018 World Cup campaign when Germany crashed out in the group stages.

However, Germany’s coach admitted recent poor results - including a thrashing by Spain and shock home loss to North Macedonia - meant “we had to rethink everything”.

Germany have been drawn in a tough group and start their Euro 2020 campaign against world champions France on June 19 in Munich, where they also face holders Portugal four days later.

Bayern Munich forward Mueller and Dortmund defender Hummels have been recalled because “in terms of leadership, they can also give the team a lot,” Loew added.

“We lacked stability and experience in some games. Mueller and Hummels have played very well this season, they can lead.”

Just as he had for his club, the centre-back can lend experience to a youthful German defence.

He has excelled in recent weeks to help Dortmund lift the German Cup and qualify for the Champions League by winning their last six Bundesliga games.

Hummels’ ability to deliver accurate long-range passes from the back can quickly turn defence into attack.

He will bring a calming influence to a Germany defence drained of confidence by a 6-0 thrashing in Spain and shock home defeat to North Macedonia this season.

The five goals Hummels has scored in the 2020/21 Bundesliga is his best single-season haul in a decade - the same figure he scored in Dortmund’s 2010/11 title-winning campaign under Jurgen Klopp.

He can be lethal in the air but can also tuck chances away having played as a striker earlier in his career.

He scored twice in a man-of-the-match performance in Dortmund’s 2-0 win at Arminia Bielefeld last October, a week after his headed goal sealed a 3-0 win over Schalke in the Ruhr derby.

He turns 33 in December and has compensated for any loss in pace by anticipating where the ball will go and ensuring he is a step ahead of his opponent.

He was a cornerstone of the Germany team which won the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

It was Hummels’ bullet header at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro which sealed a nervy 1-0 win over France in the quarter-finals.

Three names will be trimmed from the final 23-man squad for the European Championship from June 11 until July 11. Eight Bayern Munich players have been named, including captain Manuel Neuer as well as 18-year-old Jamal Musiala, who opted for Germany over England this year.

Two high-profile names missing are injured Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus, who made himself unavailable on Tuesday after an injury-hit season.

A surprise choice is Monaco forward Kevin Volland as back up for Chelsea s triker Timo Werner.

“We saw what he did in France, he scored 16 goals and also looks very good physically,” explained Loew.

Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has been included despite testing positive for Covid-19.

Loew is “full of hope” that Kroos, 31, will be fit for the finals, but may have to join the German’s training camp after the start date on May 28.

Meanwhile, Steve Clarke named uncapped trio Billy Gilmour, Nathan Patterson and David Turnbull in his Euro 2020 squad on Wednesday for Scotland’s first major international tournament in 23 years.

Nineteen-year-olds Gilmour and Patterson plus PFA Scotland young player of the year Turnbull, 21, have made the cut after being named in Clarke’s 26-man provisional squad.

Scotland will host the Czech Republic and Croatia at Hampden either side of a trip to Wembley to face old rivals England in June.

Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, Arsenal left-back Kieran Tierney, Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay and Aston Villa’s John McGinn are among the more experienced international players.

Clarke resisted calling up Gilmour for World Cup qualifiers in March, but the midfielder impressed in three recent starts for Chelsea in the Premier League.

“I know Billy Gilmour, a player I’ve known for a long time, is very well regarded at Chelsea,” said former Chelsea defender and coach Clarke.

Finland confident of Pukki recovery: Finland’s star striker Teemu Pukki’s prospects of recovering from an ankle injury in time for the European Championships are “looking good”, manager Markku Kanerva said on Wednesday as he announced his squad.

“We’ll see when he fully returns to training how good his ankle is,” Kanerva told a press conference, but said he is “very positive that he’ll be in shape by the competition.”

The 31-year-old attacker scored ten goals in ten matches as Finland qualified for the Euros for the first time.

Agence France-Presse