Germany's national football team has unveiled its 23-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League quarterfinals against Italy, taking place on March 20 and March 23. The announcement comes amid a challenging period for the team, managed by Julian Nagelsmann, who faces notable absences due to injuries and illness.

Among the key inclusions is Leon Goretzka, marking his return to the national setup after last appearing in a match in November 2023. Goretzka's selection follows a resurgence in his form with Bayern Munich, despite previous indications from the club regarding his potential transfer opportunities.

Conversely, several prominent players will miss out on the matches, including Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz, Marc-André ter Stegen, Niclas Füllkrug, Benjamin Henrichs, and Aleksandar Pavlovic.

In response to the numerous absences, Nagelsmann remained optimistic about the squad's depth, stating, "Although we have to cope with a few absences, we generally have a very good squad." He expressed confidence that the selected players are eager to compete: "We have opted for these players out of conviction and have tried to replace the quality that has been lost with quality." The squad will also feature debutant Yann Aurel Bisseck of Inter Milan, alongside Nadiem Amiri, who is expected to return to the national team after being away for more than four years.

A victory against Italy would see Germany advance to the UEFA Nations League Final Four, scheduled to be hosted in cities across Germany, including Munich and Stuttgart, with semifinals on June 4 and 5 and the final on June 8. Should Italy secure advancement instead, the Final Four will be held in Turin.