Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has been hit with a late player withdrawal ahead of Friday's Euro 2024 Group A opener against Scotland at the Allianz Arena.

Twenty-five of Die Mannschaft's initial 26-strong selection have been training as normal ahead of the contest, although 20-year-old Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic has been battling tonsillitis and is now confirmed to be missing the tournament.

Borussia Dortmund's Emre Can has been summoned to replace his stricken colleague, although a spot on the bench awaits him, as Nagelsmann appears to have settled on his favoured 4-2-3-1 setup for the summer tournament.

Still keeping Marc-Andre ter Stegen at bay, Manuel Neuer acts as Germany's last line of defence for his 120th cap, guarded by the two-man defensive wall of Antonio Rudiger and Jonathan Tah.

Joshua Kimmich has now reverted to his right-back role after a successful midfield stint and is also a rearguard shoo-in, while Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstadt is expected to hold off David Raum for the left-back berth.

With his club career now done and dusted, Toni Kroos gears up for his international swansong and partners Robert Andrich as the double pivot, while Ilkay Gundogan sports the captain's armband from the number 10 slot.

Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz are expected to keep Leroy Sane at bay in the wide areas, while Arsenal's Kai Havertz - who shone as a number nine in the latter stages of 2023-24 - should also win his scrap with Niclas Fullkrug to lead the offensive charge.

Germany possible starting lineup:
Neuer; Kimmich, Tah, Rudiger, Mittelstadt; Kroos, Andrich; Musiala, Gundogan, Wirtz; Havertz

> Click here to see how Scotland could line up for this match

Written by
Ben Knapton