With friendlies against France and the Netherlands approaching, Germany head coach Joachim Löw has recalled an old face and selected a pair of new ones in his 25-man squad.
After a year away, striker Mario Gomez has returned to the Germany squad for their November friendlies against France and the Netherlands. The 25-man squad, which was announced on Friday, also included newcomers Kevin Trapp and Leroy Sane. Both Mesut Özil and Toni Kroos were rested and therefore not in the squad.
Sami Khedira, Julian Draxler and Ron-Robert Zieler returned to the squad, while both Mario Götze and Marco Reus missed out through injury. Despite Marc-Andre ter Stegen being rested, there were still four goalkeepers in the squad. There was no space however, for the in-form Julian Weigl, Marcel Schmelzer or Ralf Fährmann.
Gomez returns for the first time since September 2014, when he appeared in a friendly to Argentina. Injury problems kept him out of the Germany squad that won the 2014 World Cup, but his recent return to health and form at Besiktas has not gone unnoticed by head coach Joachim Löw. Gomez is averaging a goal every 91 minutes in the Turkish Süper Lig, but perhaps even more impressive is the fact that the 30-year-old is regularly playing again. Whether or not the more traditional striker will also be a part of the Euro 2016 squad will likely be decided in the next few games. Many belive Gomez is only in because others are out, but there is also the possibility that Löw feels there is value in having a pure goalscorer in the squad rather than another midfield option.
"When Mario is fit and playing regularly, has his rhythm and self-confidence then he can be valuable for any team, ours included," said Löw, who added that Gomez "deserves the chance to demonstrate his qualities and to show that he is an option for us in attack."
At times this season, Leroy Sane has carried Schalke. The the son of former Bundesliga player and Senegal international Souleyman Sane has scored five goals and three assists this season, but those statistics only tell half the story. In Paris, the 19-year-old winger will get the chance to show off why he is a natural fit for Löw's system. "He is fast, technically strong, seeks out one-on-one opportunities and plays without pressure. We can see he has great potential," said Löw. Sane will return to the U21 team after the game in Paris.
Germany will play France on November 13 and the Netherlands on November 17.
