Bundesliga
El Mala gets first Germany call-up
Said El Mala has been given his first senior call-up by Germany for November's crunch FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Slovakia.
El Mala, 19, has perhaps been the single biggest breakout star of the Bundesliga season, smashing four goals in his first nine appearances in the division for newly promoted Cologne - some in spectacular fashion.
"Said should get the chance to show his carefreeness and easygoingness with us. We have an eye on our U21 players and always want to give them the chance to feature for the senior national team," said Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann.
"I'm really happy to be called up. It's a great reward for all the hard work. I'm proud to get to represent Cologne in the Germany shirt," El Mala added.
Watch: El Mala among the Bundesliga's top teenage prospects
Jonathan Burkardt of Eintracht Frankfurt, who is the second-highest scorer in the Bundesliga this season (with six goals) is included again and has a chance to add to his five caps.
There is a recall for former Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané, who has 70 caps for Germany and last featured in June shortly before he left the Bundesliga champions for Galatasaray in the Turkish Süper Lig.
Defender Malick Thiaw, who formerly made 57 appearances for Schalke and currently plays for Newcastle United in the English Premier League, is named in a squad for the first time since 2023.
Watch: Analysing Frankfurt's Burkardt
A late change saw RB Leipzig's rising midfield star Assan Ouédraogo called up as a replacement for injured Mainz midfielder Nadiem Amiri. Nagelsmann said on the 19-year-old: "Assan is doing very well at the moment in the Bundesliga. He is a promising young player, similar to El Mala, who we would like to see in training."
Germany are top of Group A of European qualifying and will secure a spot in next summer's World Cup finals in the USA, Canada in Mexico should they win their final two qualifiers.
They travel to Luxembourg on Friday, 14 November (8:45pm CET) before facing Slovakia on Monday, 17 November (8:45pm CET) at RB Leipzig's Red Bull Arena.
Germany squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu, Oliver Baumann, Finn Dahmen, Alexander Nübel
Defenders: Waldemar Anton, Ridle Baku, Nathaniel Brown, David Raum, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, Malick Thiaw
Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi, Said El Mala, Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich (c), Jamie Leweling, Felix Nmecha, Assan Ouédraogo, Aleksandar Pavlović, Leroy Sané, Florian Wirtz
Forwards: Jonathan Burkardt, Kevin Schade, Nick Woltemade