Bayern Munich youngsters Lennart Karl and Jonas Urbig named among Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad for March pre-World Cup friendly matches
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has named a 26-man squad for two friendly international matches in March against Switzerland and Ghana, with Bayern Munich youngsters Lennart Karl and Jonas Urbig included for the first time.
Urbig, 22, and Karl, 18, have emerged as stars in Bayern's incredible season so far, and have both caps for Germany U21s.
Their club teammate Jamal Musiala has been left out of the squad as he continues to recover to full fitness following a lengthy injury break.
Watch: Karl outpacing Musiala at Bayern
VfB Stuttgart full-back Josha Vagnoman is named in a Germany squad for the first time since earning his sole cap in a March 2023 friendly against Belgium, while in-form teammate Deniz Undav is named among the strikers for the first time since last summer's UEFA Nations League finals.
Former Mainz and Hoffenheim midfielder Anton Stach, meanwhile, gets his first call-up since gaining his second cap against Italy in June 2022.
Nagelsmann recently said his squad for the two friendly matches "would closely resemble" that at the FIFA World Cup this June and July.
Germany are to play Switzerland - whose squad features a host of Bundesliga stars - in Basel on Friday 27 March (kick-off: 8.45pm CET) before facing Ghana at Stuttgart's MHPArena on Monday 30 March (kick-off: 8.45pm CEST).
A further friendly against Finland is scheduled for 31 May in Mainz before Germany travel to the USA and face the World Cup co-hosts in a final friendly in Chicago on 6 June.
Germany then open their bid for World Cup glory on 14 June against Curaçao in Houston.
Germany squad vs. Switzerland and Ghana
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, Jonas Urbig
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Nathaniel Brown, Joshua Kimmich (captain), David Raum, Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Malick Thiaw, Josha Vagnoman
Midfielders: Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Pascal Groß, Kai Havertz, Lennart Karl, Jamie Leweling, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlović, Leroy Sané, Anton Stach, Florian Wirtz
Forwards: Kevin Schade, Deniz Undav, Nick Woltemade
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