FRANKFURT, Germany — Bayern Munich’s young talent, Lennart Karl, received his first call-up to the German national team on Thursday, thanks to his impressive Champions League performances, which include several standout goals.
Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger has also been recalled to the squad.
The news came a day after the 18-year-old Karl played a crucial role in Bayern’s match against Atalanta, contributing one goal and an assist. This brought his tally to four goals and two assists in just seven Champions League appearances.
Karl made history as Bayern’s youngest goal-scorer in the competition during his first start last October.
Also in contention for their first international appearance is Bayern teammate Jonas Urbig, who has been filling in as goalkeeper during Manuel Neuer’s recovery from calf injuries. Urbig returned from a concussion to feature in the second leg of Bayern’s 10-2 aggregate victory over Atalanta on Wednesday, helping to avert a potential injury crisis.
Rüdiger’s return to Julian Nagelsmann’s squad marks his first inclusion since September, after a hamstring injury sidelined him for a significant portion of the first half of the season, missing the last four World Cup qualifying matches.
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Additionally, Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav rejoins the squad after an impressive run in the Bundesliga, netting in his last five matches. With 16 goals, he currently ranks as the league’s second-highest scorer, trailing only Bayern’s Harry Kane.
Germany is set to play friendly matches against Switzerland on March 27 and Ghana in Stuttgart three days later.
The four-time World Cup champions are grouped with Curacao, Ivory Coast, and Ecuador for the upcoming tournament.