Horst Hrubesch has selected a strong squad for Germany under-21's upcoming qualifiers.
Marc Stendera and Odisseas Vlachodimos have finally been able to make the squad after injuries early in the season prevented them from receiving their call-ups. Janik Haberer was a surprise inclusion on paper but he has been in fantastic form this year, something Hrubesch has clearly picked up on.
"I am looking forward to welcoming Marc Stendera and Odisseas Vlachodimos to the team," said the experienced coach. "Janik Haberer also has shown top performances this season and earned a call-up." This is a team full of players that would make their debut at this level, should they feature in the upcoming games.
Plenty of new faces
Alongside the aforementioned trio, Jannik Huth and Kevin Akpoguma will also claim their first cap at this level. After Marc-André ter Stegen and Bernd Leno got their full national team call this week, Hrubesch has called upon three new goalkeepers for the qualifiers. Other than that, it is a squad that has few surprise inclusions.
After a summer full of youth football, the elite members of those squads are now involved at the highest youth level. Niklas Stark and Julian Weigl, as well as Stendera and Akpoguma, were key players in the Germany under-19 squad. Timo Werner, Jonathan Tah and Lukas Klostermann have also got the nod following the under-18 European Championship.
The squad
Germany under-21 squad in full to face Finland (9th October) and the Faroe Islands (13th October).
Goalkeepers: Jannik Huth (1. FSV Mainz), Odisseas Vlachodimos (VfB Stuttgart), Timon Wellenreuther (RCD Mallorca).
Defenders: Kevin Akpoguma (Fortuna Düsseldorf), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), Niklas Süle (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Jeremy Toljan (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim).
Midfielders: Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg), Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Yannick Gerhardt (1. FC Köln), Serge Gnabry (West Bromwich Albion), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Janik Haberer (VfL Bochum), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Max Meyer (Schalke 04), Niklas Stark (Hertha BSC) Marc Stendera (Eintracht Frankfurt), Julian Weigl (Borussia Dortmund).
Forwards: Leroy Sané (Schalke 04, Davie Selke (RB Leipzig), Timo Werner (VfB Stuttgart).