With Max Kruse, Nadiem Amiri and Maximilian Arnold at the helm, coach Stefan Kuntz’s German soccer team is going to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. The DFB coach also nominated seven players on Monday who surprisingly became U21 European champions just a month ago.
“With the nomination of the squad, the anticipation for the Olympic Games, which was already huge, increases immeasurably,” says Kuntz: “It will be a very special experience for the 19 boys and the entire team, being part of Team Germany in Tokyo be.”
Kuntz was allowed to nominate three players who were born before 1997. The biggest surprise is Kruse, who has not worn the DFB jersey since 2015. The current professional from Union Berlin was removed from the squad by national coach Löw because of indiscipline. Amiri (Bayer Leverkusen) and Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg) won the U21 European Championship under Kuntz in 2017.
But Kuntz also criticized some clubs. »The willingness to support the Olympic team varied in the Bundesliga. Unfortunately, some big clubs didn’t want to help as they had hoped, ”he said. His goal is clear: “We want to get as far as possible and play for the Olympic medals.”
As announced, the new U21 European champions form the framework of the team. Niklas Dorsch (KAA Gent), Ismail Jakobs (1.FC Cologne), Arne Maier (Hertha BSC), Amos Pieper (Arminia Bielefeld), David Raum (TSG Hoffenheim), Anton Stach (SpVgg Greuther Fürth) and Josha Vagnoman (Hamburger SV ) had only won the title in Ljubljana at the beginning of June with a 1-0 win against Portugal.
The DFB team will meet on July 12th, and one day later they will head to Japan. After a test against Honduras on July 17th, the game against Brazil will be serious on July 22nd in Yokohama. The other opponents in the preliminary round are Saudi Arabia and Ivory Coast.
The German Olympic squad at a glance:
Defense: Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Amos Pieper (Arminia Bielefeld), David Raum (TSG Hoffenheim), Jordan Torunarigha (Hertha BSC), Felix Uduokhai (FC Augsburg), Josha Vagnoman (Hamburger SV)
Midfield / Forward: Nadiem Amiri (Bayer Leverkusen), Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg), Niklas Dorsch (KAA Gent), Ismail Jakobs (1. FC Cologne), Max Kruse (Union Berlin), Eduard Löwen (VfL Bochum), Arne Maier (Hertha BSC) , Marco Richter (FC Augsburg), Anton Stach (SpVgg Greuther Fürth), Cedric Teuchert (Union Berlin)
