Low: Boateng, Hummels, Muller will no longer be in Germany squad

A trio of World Cup winners will no longer be considered for international selection.

The Bayern Munich triumvirate of Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, and Thomas Muller have apparently been forced into international retirement, as manager Joachim Low said none will represent Germany again.

Low is looking to overhaul the national team to give younger players an opportunity.

“Two-thousand nineteen is a new beginning for the Germany national team. It was important for me to personally explain my decision to the players and the FC Bayern management,” Low said.

“Now it’s time to set the course for the future. We want to give the team a new look. I am convinced that this is the right step. The youngsters coming through will have the room they need to grow. Now it’s up to them to take on responsibility.”

All three have been vital to the country’s success over the last decade. They were integral members of the German squad that helped end the country’s 24-year World Cup drought by winning the competition in 2014.

However, Low’s decision comes less than a year after Germany managed its worst-ever performance in a World Cup when it failed to get out of the group stage – finishing 22nd – at the 2018 tournament in Russia.

Low received support from German Football Association president Reinhard Grindel, who agreed that it’s the right time to look to the future as the nation gets set to begin its qualifying campaign for the 2020 European Championship.

“I welcome the fact that Jogi Low is now furthering the change of our national team,” he said. “The start of qualifying for the Euro 2020 is the right time for personnel changes. Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels, and Thomas Muller played a key role in making us 2014 world champions. For the DFB will always be grateful to the players.”

Muller, 29, finishes his international career as the ninth-highest scorer with 38 goals in 100 caps. Hummels, 30, has been capped 70 times while fellow center-back Boateng, 30, made 74 appearances.