Nico Schlotterbeck responds to Nagelsmann’s European Championship nomination

Central defender Nico Schlotterbeck out Borussia Dortmund is part of national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s selection for the Home European Championships. “Incredibly grateful that we have been nominated for the upcoming European Championships in our own country!!!,” the 24-year-old wrote on Instagram on Sunday evening.

It used to be ARD– “Tagesschau” reported on the nomination with reference to a DFB source. Also according to information from German news agency Schlotterbeck is part of the selection for the home tournament, which the national coach will officially announce on Thursday in Berlin. The DFB responded to the Tagesschau’s Instagram post on Sunday with three hearts in black, red and gold.

Nagelsmann rewarded Schlotterbeck for his recent excellent performances at Borussia Dortmund, including reaching the Champions League final on June 1 against Real Madrid. The central defender last played in the 4-1 defeat against Japan in Wolfsburg in September 2023 – the last game under national coach Hansi Flick. He was never nominated by Nagelsmann.

Hummel’s staff is open

It remains unclear whether Nagelsmann will also bring Schlotterbeck’s partner in the BVB defense, Mats Hummels, back into the DFB team. The 35-year-old veteran was surprisingly not included by the national coach in March for the European Championship tests in France (2:0) and against the Netherlands (2:1).

Nagelsmann justified this by saying that he relied on Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and Real Madrid’s Antonio Rüdiger in the center of defense and did not trust Hummels to take on the role of their backup. Instead, national coach Robin Koch from Eintracht Frankfurt and Stuttgart newcomer Waldemar Anton nominated. After excellent performances, the call to reactivate Hummels has become louder lately.

Schlotterbeck has played eleven international matches so far, but often left an unhappy impression. At the 2022 World Cup, he was involved in the 1-2 false start against Japan and also took several penalties. The 1.91 meter tall defender is appreciated for his good opening of the match.

Schlotterbeck will come later

Schlotterbeck will only join the DFB entourage late in the preparation for the European Championship. Due to the premier class final, he, like the seeded Real stars Rüdiger and Toni Kroos and his Dortmund colleague Niclas Füllkrug, also missed the first of two European Championship tests on June 3 in Nuremberg against Ukraine.