Youssoufa Moukoko named in Germany squad for World Cup

Germany boss Hansi Flick has named 17-year-old Borussia Dortmund attacker Youssoufa Moukoko in his squad for the 2022 World Cup.

Moukoko, who is yet to earn a senior cap for Germany, has been in impressive form for BVB during the 2022-23 campaign, scoring six times and registering six assists in 21 appearances in all competitions.

The teenager is the surprise inclusion for DFB-Team, who will be bidding to win their fifth World Cup in Qatar.

Germany lifted the trophy in 2014 but were eliminated in the group stage of the 2018 competition, and they will feature alongside Japan, Spain and Costa Rica in Group E.

Experienced defender Mats Hummels has been left out of the squad alongside Marco Reus, Robin Gosens and Florian Wirtz, while Timo Werner had not been available for selection due to injury.

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There is a spot in the squad for Mario Gotze, though, with the 30-year-old rewarded for his strong form for Eintracht Frankfurt this season, scoring twice and registering three assists in 22 appearances.

Unsurprisingly, Bayern Munich are well-represented in the selection, with Manuel Neuer, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Leroy Sane included.

Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan and Chelsea's Kai Havertz have also been included in the squad, while Southampton's Armel Bella-Kotchap has been selected.

Marc-Andre ter Stegen has been in excellent form for Barcelona this season, but Neuer will again be Germany's number one goalkeeper at the competition in Qatar.

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Antonio Rudiger is also a certain starter for Germany at the tournament, while Kimmich and Gundogan are expected to play key roles in midfield.

Musiala could also have forced his way into the first XI, with the 19-year-old in excellent form for Bayern this season, scoring 12 goals and registering eight assists in 21 appearances in all competitions.

Alongside the familiar faces in the final third of the field, there is a spot for Karim Adeyemi, who has managed two goals in 17 appearances for Borussia Dortmund this season.

Meanwhile, Niclas Fullkrug is included, with the 29-year-old scoring 10 times in 13 appearances for Werder Bremen during the 2022-23 campaign.

Germany squad for World Cup:

Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp; Armel Bella-Kotchap, Matthias Ginter, Christian Gunter, Thilo Kehrer, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule; Julian Brandt, Leon Goretzka, Mario Gotze, Ilkay Gundogan, Jonas Hofmann, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala; Karim Adeyemi, Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane, Niclas Fullkrug