Hummels on DFB nomination: "A genuinely nice affirmation for the work I do on the pitch."
In a video post on his instagram feed, Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels thanked fans for their continued belief in him following yesterday's surprise recall to the German national team.
New German Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann - in speaking the reason he recalled 34-year-old German central defender Mats Hummels back to the German national team following a hiatus of over two years yesterday - made clear that he expected the veteran to bring intangible leadership qualities back to the team. Whether or not that will manifest itself on the pitch or from the sidelines remains to be seen.
In any event, the 2014 World Cup Champion responded to his first call-up since the summer 2021 Euros with great elation on his instagram feed. The BVB defender noted that he was "very happy to be back on the team" and expressed gratitude for the "many people who were sincerely and honestly happy for me".
"It's a wild and genuinely nice affirmation for the work I do on the pitch," Hummels said in a video message, "and great to know that I can still make it work on the pitch."
Hummels has been capped forth German national team 76 times and scored five goals. Following the disappointing 2018 World Cup exit, he was among a trio of players (Jerome Boateng and Thomas Müller being the others) controversially excluded from the national team by then Bundestrainer Joachim Löw. Hummels and Müller were brought back for the 2021 Euros after Löw was compelled to reverse course.
Müller was also among Nagelsmann's call-ups yesterday.