Hoping until the end: Bayern Munich’s Leon Goretzka iced out of “dream” home EUROs

Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka has been excluded from consideration for Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad for EURO 2024. But up until he was informed of the call, the 29-year-old was hopeful of a talk with his former coach.

“I’ve already said that I’m always ready to have a conversation. I always leave my phone on. There hasn’t been a conversation yet,” Goretzka was quoted in Bild as saying “I hope there will still be one. It’s my big goal, my big dream to play a European Championship in my country. Julian will now decide.”

Nagelsmann has decided, and the choice was to leave the veteran out. The starting midfield pivot is set to be Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich and Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos, with FC Barcelona star İlkay Gündoğan playing ahead of them. For Goretzka, who did his best to re-assert himself in the Rückrunde — scoring again in the most recent game against VfL Wolfsburg — it must be a bitter pill to swallow.