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.