ALEKSANDAR PAVLOVIC is out of Euro 2024 after coming down with tonsillitis.
The Bayern Munich midfielder, 20, was initially selected as part of Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad.
Pavlovic earned his way into international reckoning with an impressive breakthrough season at club level.
After making 22 appearances for Bayern this term, including a start against Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-finals, Pavlovic was called up by Nagelsmann.
The 6ft 2in midfielder made his international debut last week, appearing off the bench in a 0-0 draw with Ukraine.
Earlier this week it was confirmed that Pavlovic would miss Friday’s Euro 2024 curtain raiser against Scotland due to tonsillitis.
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And the illness has now forced the unfortunate starlet out of the tournament altogether.
Nagelsmann, 36, has called on Emre Can to replace Pavlovic in the squad.
Can, 30, will be well known to English football fans, having played for Liverpool between 2014 and 2018.
He left Anfield for Juventus, and has plied his trade for Borussia Dortmund since 2020.
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The midfielder captained Dortmund in the Champions League final earlier this month.
He is experienced at international level, having already earned 43 caps.
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Can has played in two tournaments in previous years; Euro 2016 and Euro 2020.
He’ll go straight into the squad for Friday’s clash with Scotland in Munich.
After their battle with the Tartan Army, the hosts will head to Stuttgart to play Hungary the following Wednesday.
Nagelsmann’s side conclude their group stage campaign with a match against Switzerland in Frankfurt on June 23.
Germany Euro 2024 guide
GERMANY’S reputation as tournament football’s greatest nation has taken a battering in recent years.
The hosts haven’t won a knockout game in eight years and the pressure is on for them to get it right in front of their home crowd.
MANAGER: Julian Nagelsmann
Bright, young and a bit of a maverick. The ex-Bayern Munich boss is known for his flashy outfits and arriving for training on a skateboard.
STAR MAN: Jamal Musiala
The 21-year-old former Chelsea star could have been playing for England and can make things happen out of nothing.
How Germany attack
Toni Kroos will typically drop deep to take the ball off the defence with the Germans then overloading the side of the pitch the ball is on.
That gives them the option of either passing through the congested area or attacking the other side with a crossfield ball to the man in space.
How Germany defend
Germany’s striker and the team’s five midfielders will form a diamond shape in the hope of preventing the opposition playing through the middle.
Should opponents then play the ball wide, the German full-backs will be expected to press high up the pitch in an attempt to win possession.
Read the full Germany Euro 2024 guide here, including predicted line-ups, odds and Wags
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
