- Title: Loew opts for youth in German preliminary Euro 2016 squad
- Date: 17th May 2016
- Summary: BERLIN, GERMANY (MAY 17, 2016) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 1st June 2016 15:08
- Keywords: Joachim Loew UEFA Euro
- Location: BERLIN, MUNICH, DORTMUND & GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY
- City: BERLIN, MUNICH, DORTMUND & GELSENKIRCHEN, GERMANY
- Country: Germany
- Topics: Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00D4I733NJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Germany coach Joachim Loew on Tuesday (May 17) named four talented youngsters, including three uncapped players, in his preliminary 27-man squad for Euro 2016.
Versatile midfielder Joshua Kimmich, striker Leroy Sane, Julian Weigl - another midfielder - and wide man Julian Brandt were all included when Loew announced his provisional squad on Tuesday.
Sane, 20, is the only one of the quartet to have earned a senior cap, making his national debut as a substitute against France in November 2015. He has scored eight times this season and his explosive speed and skills were rare bright spots in Schalke's otherwise disappointing season.
"Leroy Sane has already played with us, he certainly has exceptional ability and can bring something special to the game," Loew told reporters at the French Embassy in Berlin, where the presentation took place.
Twenty-one-year-old Kimmich, who played at both centre back and as a holding midfielder for champions Bayern Munich, earned repeated praise from his coach, Pep Guardiola, during his first season at the club.
Borussia Dortmund's Julian Weigl enjoyed a superb Bundesliga debut season as his club finished second, while fellow 20-year-old Julian Brandt's nine goals earned Bayer Leverkusen third spot.
"Now it is about forging a unit, to tune everyone towards the same, common goal," Loew said.
"We are strong but we know we are not undefeatable and that we have some work to do in the next weeks."
Injured captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is racing to be fit for the tournament in France, was also included in Loew's provisional list, as were a dozen of their 2014 World Cup winners, including Mesut Ozil, Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller and keeper Manuel Neuer.
However, there was no room for some of the other World Cup winners, including Christoph Kramer and Matthias Ginter.
The final squad will be announced on May 31, Loew said.
Germany face Ukraine, Poland and Northern Ireland in Group C of the competition, starting on June 10. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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