Mats Hummels admits he is bitter about his Euro 2024 snub from Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The 35-year-old Dortmund defender is preparing for the Champions League Final against Real Madrid on Saturday, knowing it will be his final game of the season – missing out on the European Championships on home soil.
The 2014 World Cup winner was omitted by Nagelsmann from the squad for the friendlies against France and Netherlands in March and was later left out of the provisional squad for Euro 2024 too.
He told Bild Sport: “I can understand the idea that a group has been growing since March. It’s bitter for me as an individual because I’m currently one of the five best defenders in Germany. I have the self-confidence to say that.”
Hummels said he had told Nagelsmann he’d be willing to remain on the bench, such was his eagerness to be part of a home tournament.
He said: “If I understood him correctly, It was more about age-related issues like fitness.
“If I’d had a (run of form) like the one I had recently before the (friendly squad was announced) in March, maybe I would have been called up – for the European Championship squad now as well.”
Hummels claimed his Dortmund team mates said “they could have easily taken you with them” after his omission.
Germany will contest Group A with Scotland, Hungary and Switzerland and play Scotland in the tournament opener on June 14.
The 2023/24 #UCLfinal…
Dortmund 🆚 Real Madrid pic.twitter.com/IdSewiXdIn
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 8, 2024
