Nübel on surprise DFB selection: "Already had safari plans in Tanzania."
Photo: Jeollo, Vfb-exklusiv.de, CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Alexander Nübel's rumored selection for the the German national team's European Championship roster was confirmed on Thursday afternoon. In had been quite the talking point in the making, Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann did confirm that he planned to take Nübel and three other keepers to the German-hosted tournament in less than a month's time.
Speaking on his call up on Thursday, Nübel noted that it caught him too by surprise. The 27-year-old - who has long controversially declined to serve behind Manuel Neuer at his club team of FC Bayern München - also declared himself ready to stand behind Neuer, Marc André ter Stegen, and Oliver Baumann on the national team's depth chart.
"I already had my vacation planned," Nübel said on Thursday, "I was planning to go on safari in Tanzania. Of course, I'm very happy to cancel that. I can always do that in later years. This call-up means a lot to me."
"It's a team sport," Nübel said of his role with the team in the upcoming competition, "I think Manu and Marc André are set. I'll get there and deliver my performance and we'll see what that's worth. It's about functioning as a team and delivering the maximum for Germany."