Germany qualified for the round of 16 in first place in their group and is one of the favorite teams to win UEFA Euro 2024. Despite their great efforts that allowed them to finish first in the group, Mats Hummels was not part of this great collective performance and will not be part of the rest of the tournament either.
It is undoubtedly a very surprising decision by Julian Nagelsmann to leave the talented 35-year-old defender out of the squad for this UEFA Euro 2024. Hummels had a magnificent season at Borussia Dortmund after reaching the Champions League final as captain and a key player for Edin Terzić’s team.
‘Die Mannschaft’ coach opted to leave several players out of the UEFA Euro 2024, only calling up 12 of the 26 who had starred in the great disappointment at the Qatar 2022 World Cup. But it certainly comes as a surprise that Hummels is not part of the squad.
Matt Hummels out of the match against Denmark
The reason why Mats Hummels will not be in the Round of 16 match against Denmark is purely and exclusively due to a personal decision by Julian Nagelsmann, who will no longer be counting on the Borussia Dortmund defender.
Mats Hummels of Borussia Dortmund applauds the fans, whilst wearing his runners up medal, after Real Madrid defeat Borussia Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 Final. Alex Pantling/Getty Images
The experienced defender spoke about the issue in an interview with German media and stated: “Not going to the European Championship is bitter. I’m one of Germany’s top five defenders and I’m not going to be part of it.”
And also added: “I can understand the idea of a group growing since March (when Germany defeated France and the Netherlands). If I had had the form I had before the nomination in March, I could have been there and now also be part of the European Championship team.”
