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The new DFB captain İlkay Gündoğan
Photograph:
Maurice van Steen / ANP / IMAGO
The German national football team starts the season with İlkay Gündoğan as captain with the home European Championship. This was announced by Germany coach Hansi Flick ahead of Saturday's international match against Japan in Wolfsburg (20:45 CET/RTL). "I've decided to give İlkay the captain's armband," Flick said in the press conference ahead of the final training session on Friday.
Together with Bayern player Joshua Kimmich, who recently led the DFB selection in the absence of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielder Gündoğan from FC Barcelona is to form the "new management duo". I would like to thank you for the trust you have placed in me, it is a great honour for me to lead the team," said the 32-year-old Gündoğan ahead of his 68th appearance for Germany.
Flick left open what will happen in the captaincy position if the 37-year-old Neuer can play again after breaking his leg in Munich and possibly return to the DFB team afterwards: "The situation with Manu is that he has to get well first."
aha/dpa