Serge Gnabry leaves Germany squad before Nations League trip to Greece

Roster trimmed to 23 players ahead of Thessaloniki trip

German national team head coach Jürgen Klopp will travel without forward Serge Gnabry for Sunday's UEFA Nations League fixture in Greece. The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed on Friday that the 31-year-old Bayern Munich attacker departed the national team headquarters in Herzogenaurach and returned to Munich. UEFA competition regulations require teams to submit a final matchday roster of 23 players, consisting of exactly 20 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Klopp had gathered 24 players in Herzogenaurach after Thursday's match in Munich, requiring one player to be left behind for the trip to Thessaloniki. SV Elversberg midfielder Felix Keidel, who sat out the match against Serbia, has been included in the 23-man travelling squad to take Gnabry's spot.

Workload management following Serbia victory

Gnabry had captained the national side for the first time during Thursday's 2:0 victory over Serbia in Munich, serving as deputy captain in the absence of Joshua Kimmich. The appearance marked Gnabry's first start for Germany since recovering from a severe muscle injury that had ruled him out of participation in the World Cup. He had returned to club action for Bayern Munich shortly before the opening international matches of the season. Under Klopp, Gnabry had been the sole German footballer to play in each of the team's first three Nations League games. Klopp replaced Gnabry at halftime against Serbia with 1. FC Köln youngster Said El Mala, explaining the substitution as a measure of workload management while commending Gnabry's performance in the first half.

Florian Wirtz assumes captaincy and Lennart Karl enters contention

With Gnabry leaving the training camp on Friday afternoon, Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz stands as the most experienced international in the travelling squad with 47 caps. The 23-year-old took over the captain's armband from Gnabry at the start of the second half against Serbia and is positioned to lead Germany out as captain against Greece. In the starting lineup, 18-year-old Bayern Munich attacker Lennart Karl could replace his club teammate on the right wing in Thessaloniki. Karl was part of the squad in Munich on Thursday but did not make an appearance off the bench.

Schedule and rematch against group leaders Greece

Germany will hold its official final training session on Saturday morning at the campus of DFB partner adidas in Herzogenaurach, Franconia. The squad will depart on a flight to Thessaloniki on Saturday afternoon ahead of Sunday's 20:45 CET kickoff at Toumba Stadium, with television coverage broadcast on RTL. Greece currently occupies first place in the Nations League group after earning a 0:1 win over Germany in the previous meeting between the two sides. The German squad travels to Thessaloniki targeting a victory to make up for that earlier home loss.