Kroos out of Germany squad for European qualifiers

BERLIN (AP) - Germany will be without Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos for its upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Belarus and Estonia.

Germany coach Joachim Loew left both of his Spain-based players - Kroos and Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen - out of his squad for the games in Minsk on June 8 and in Mainz three days later. Kroos has a muscular problem and ter Stegen has a knee injury.

Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was named captain despite missing the last few weeks for Bayern Munich with a calf injury. Bernd Leno will replace the injured ter Stegen, while Julian Draxler and Jonas Hector also return.

There was no place for Borussia Dortmund forward Mario Götze despite his return to form.

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Germany squad:

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Bernd Leno (Arsenal), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)

Defenders: Matthias Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Marcel Halstenberg (Leipzig), Lukas Klostermann (Leipzig), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Thilo Kehrer (Paris Saint-Germain), Nico Schulz (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Stark (Hertha Berlin), Niklas Süle (Bayern Munich), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Ilkay Gündogan, (Manchester City), Leroy Sané (Manchester City)

Forwards: Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Timo Werner (Leipzig)

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