Germany are preparing for their new era, and the fresh-look squad put in their first training session together on Monday ahead of their upcoming international friendly with Serbia.
Manager Joachim Low recently controversially axed some of the Mannschaft’s veteran stars from the World Cup-winning era, in favour of promoting youth through the ranks.
The absences of Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller and Jerome Boateng were apparent as the revamped squad went about football business at their Wolfsburg base.
Lukas Klostermann (centre) is one of the many fresh faces of the new-look Germany side
Hertha Berlin defender Niklas Stark is now in the senior ranks under manager Joachim Low
Julian Brandt took part in Monday’s session, and is expected to be a leading light for Germany
Leipzig’s Marcel Halstenberg was in high spirits as the squad went through their paces
Thilo Kehrer, Kai Havertz, Maxi Eggestein along with Brandt and Klostermann are highly rated
Low has promoted new names into the senior ranks including two defenders – Niklas Stark of Hertha Berlin and RB Leipzig’s Lukas Klostermann.
The highly rated Bayer Leverkusen playmaker Kai Havertz has also been handed another opportunity among the big guns of German football, and is expected to be a permanent fixture in the years to come.
Low’s actions mean a youthful base has been solidified in the German national side, with the likes of Leroy Sane and Timo Werner now becoming more experienced members of the side as a result.
Some of the old guard still exist, however, with Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus and Manchester City’s Ilkay Gundogan remaining in the thick of the action – the latter receiving a first recall back into the squad since September 2018.
Marcus Sorg, assistant coach of Germany, oversaw the session and put players through paces
Despite his tender years Timo Werner is now one of the more experienced stars in the side
The old guard of Marco Reus and Ilkay Gundogan still remain in the team however
Low has insisted he will be sticking with captain Manuel Neuer, despite questionable form
Assistant coach Marcus Song took Monday’s session, putting the players through their paces with various drills in order to get a gauge on current fitness levels and sharpness.
Germany face Serbia in a friendly encounter on Wednesday, before going up against Holland in a crunch Euro 2020 qualifier on Sunday.
Low has also revealed he will be sticking with Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer as his No 1 goalkeeper, despite his waning form and the weekly consistency of Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Neuer was recently left humiliated by Sadio Mane as Bayern were defeated by Liverpool in the Champions League, but Low is set to stick by his man.
‘Manuel Neuer is the No. 1. He is our captain,’ Low said in a press conference on Friday. ‘But he has to also play well for us, and he knows that.’