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According to a report from Sport1 journalist Florian Plettenberg, Bayern Munich star midfielder Leon Goretzka has returned to team training for Germany, making it the first session where manager Joachim Löw had all 26 players available.
Goretzka, who suffered a torn muscle while with Bayern Munich, has been attacking his rehab extremely hard in hopes of being eligible to play against France during Germany’s opening match for the upcoming European Championships.
Per Plettenberg, Goretzka will fall short of reaching his goal of being formally cleared in time to play against France, but the 26-year-old will be eligible to play against Portugal:
-Update: @leongoretzka_ zurück im Mannschaftstraining. Gegen Frankreich fällt er aus. Gegen Portugal will er spielen. Alle 26 Spieler dabei. @SPORT1 @berger_pj pic.twitter.com/aihUAvfBy8
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) June 10, 2021
Update: @leongoretzka_ back in team training. He is out against France. He wants to play against Portugal. All 26 players there. @SPORT1 @berger_pj
Goretzka’s expected absence and Joshua Kimmich’s move to right-back should make the starting midfield duo very clear for Löw Without the Bayern Munich twosome in the center of the pitch, Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos and Manchester City’s İlkay Gündoğan are expected to get the starting nod.