Ascona, Switzerland (dpa) – Germany veteran Lukas Podolski insisted Wednesday he is not in the Euro 2016 squad as a mascot but ready to help the world champions win the continental title in France.
«I never took the nomination for granted. I have an important role and I certainly didn’t come here as a mascot,» he told a news conference. «It is outrageous, I don’t deserve this.»
Podolski, who turns 31 on Saturday, is the most-capped player in Joachim Loew’s squad with 126 games. He is no longer a regular starter but said he wants to play an important role at his seventh big tournament after a good first season at Turkey’s Galatasaray.
Some media had suggested that Podolski was more of a talisman for the team but he insisted that he top fit and «proud to be here. It is my aim to attack in training. If I play I want to take my chance.
«The European title is the aim, everyone has to get in line.»
Podolski joined the training camp in Switzerland late owing to club duties, and Loew will finally have all 23 players on board when Toni Kroos arrives after his weekend Champions League title with Real Madrid.
Assistant coach Marcus Sorg said Kroos was to arrive later Wednesday.
Also finally in team training since Tuesday is the 114-times capped Bastian Schweinsteiger after a long injury lay-off, with Sorg saying the captain can become «a precious addition» during the June 10-June 10 tournament.
«He is very good athletic shape … You must always wait for a reaction after training, so we are taking it day-by-day. There is room for improvement but we have time to bring him forward,» Sorg said.
Germany start their Euro campaign on June 12 against Ukraine, with Poland and Northern Ireland their other group stage opponents at the June 10-July 10 tournament.
Centre back Mats Hummels continues to train individually and like Schweinsteiger may not be available for the first game for which seven starters however appear to be set.
They are the world champions Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Thomas Mueller and Mesut Oezil, and tournament novice Jonas Hector.
The final days of training, plus a tune-up game Saturday against Hungary, will determine the other four spots for which among others defender Benedikt Hoewedes and Antonio Ruediger, and up front Mario Goetze and Mario Gomez.
«The training intensity is high. All players are working extremely hard,» Gomez said.
