The German national soccer team is heading into the home European Championship season with Ilkay Gündogan as captain. This was announced by national coach Hansi Flick before the international match on Saturday (8.45 p.m./RTL) against Japan in Wolfsburg. “I decided to give Ilkay the captain’s armband,” said Flick on Friday in the press conference before the final training session.
Together with Bayern professional Joshua Kimmich, who recently led the DFB selection in the absence of the missing goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, midfielder Gündogan from FC Barcelona will form the “new leadership duo”. In the squad for the game against Japan, Thomas Müller (121) and Kimmich (79) have played more international matches than Gündogan (67).
“I would like to thank you for your trust, it is a great honor for me to lead the team,” said the 32-year-old Gündogan before his 68th appearance for Germany. Flick left it 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 returns to the DFB team afterwards: “The situation with Manu is that he has to get healthy first.”