Germany team to face Scotland revealed as Steve Clarke discovers opponents

JULIAN NAGELSMANN has already told the players who will line up for Germany against Scotland in Munich on Friday.

And it’s emerged they’ve known for at least a week – if not longer.

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Head coach Nagelsmann’s understood to have plumped for the same line-up from last Friday’s 2-1 win over Greece in Monchengladbach – a performance that failed to impress supporters and sparked demands for veteran No1 Manuel Neuer to be dropped.

World Cup winner Neuer – set to win his 120^th cap against the Scots in the hugely anticipated Euro 2024 opener – blundered badly to allow the Greeks to go ahead.

And overall his display led to widespread criticism, including from legend Lothar Matthaus, who claimed the 38-year-old was no longer as secure and dependable as before.

Plenty have demanded Germany’s back-up keeper and Barcelona first choice Marc-Andre ter Stegen is selected instead for the tournament.

But Nagelsmann instantly insisted Neuer was safe and that there would be NO discussion over the goalkeeping position.

Indeed, the Euros’ youngest boss had clearly told his players as far as back as the massively impressive March friendly victories over France and the Netherlands what their roles were going to be for the competition.

Each individual in his 26-man pool has no doubts about their status as likely starters or subs.

Just last week Nagelsmann also went public to state Arsenal Kai Harvetz would be first choice striker ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s Niclas Fullkrug.

It’s believed the German chief has even named his first choice subs.

Leading German publication Bild has reported the following line-up to face Steve Clarke’s men: Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Antonio Rudiger, Maximilian Mittelstadt, Toni Kroos, Robert Andrich, Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gundogan, Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz.

And Fullkrug, Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane – who has come into the competition still working for full fitness – and Brighton’s Pascal Gross will be Nagelsmann’s first choice replacements.

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