Joachim Löw locks in Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz
March 19, 2021
Jamal Musiala, 18, who was also eligible to play for England, has been named to Joachim Löw's squad as Germany kick off their World Cup qualifying campaign against Iceland in Duisburg on March 25 and North Macedonia in Romania three days later. Also getting his first call-up to the national team is 17-year-old Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz.
Exception granted for Premier League players
Just hours after the local authorities in the western German citiy of Duisburg announced that England-based players would be granted an exemption to coronavirus quarantine restrictions,Löw saw his way clear to nominate Chelsea's Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, and Antonio Rüdiger, Manchester City's Ilkay Gündogan, and Arsenal goalkeeper Bernd Leno to the squad. Frankfurt's Amin Younes has been given his first call-up since October 2017.
As expected, Thomas Müller, Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng, all members of Germany's 2014 World Cup-winning side, have not been recalled, although Löw has signaled that they could be in the mix for the Euros in the summer.
How exactly that tournament will be played is still unclear, with UEFA wanting guarantees from the 12 host cities than some fans will be allowed. But Löw doesn't believe the multi-city format can still work.
"I must be honest that the way the whole thing is developing it is not really imaginable that the Euros will take place in this way," Löw told Bavarian radio.
"Of course I also know from sources that there is a plan B to possibly stage it in one country. At the moment you can't really say what will happen in three months. I think health comes first. It is logical we would be happy about fans. But you have to say that at the moment it is not realistic."