With the opening of the European Cup imminent, the German team encountered temporary personnel changes. The 20-year-old rising star Alexander Pavlovic was excluded from the German national team list due to tonsillitis, and was replaced by Dortmund captain Emre Can.
Pavlovic was one of the 26 members of the list hand-picked by German coach Nagelsmann. The young midfielder made his national team debut in the warm-up match between Germany and Ukraine on June 3 this year, when the two sides drew 0-0. Last season, Pavlovic played 19 times for the Bundesliga champion Bayern Leverkusen and performed well.
However, just two days before the opening of the European Cup, Pavlovic missed the team training due to tonsillitis. After careful consideration, coach Nagelsmann decided to replace him and recall Emre Can.
Nagelsmann explained: “The team needs an experienced midfielder who can form a tacit partnership with Leon Goretzka. Emre Can not only has rich game experience, but also performs well under pressure. When he received the call from the national team, he immediately expressed great enthusiasm and willingness to join the team.”
Although Emre Can, 30 years old, is already well-known in European football, his actual age is not that old. He has played 43 times for the German team, and his most recent national team match was Germany’s 2-1 victory over France in September last year, when he played the whole game.
This season, Emre Can, as the captain of Dortmund, led the team to the Champions League final, but unfortunately failed to win the cup. Despite this, his outstanding performance has regained the recognition of the national team.
The German team will usher in their first game of the 2024 European Cup in Munich on June 14, against Scotland. Can Emre Can’s appointment at the critical moment help the German team get off to a good start? Let’s wait and see.
