Germany name Gotze in 26-man squad despite not playing for country since 2017

Mario Gotze's renaissance has seen him named in Germany's final 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar - despite last playing for his nation in November 2017.

Gotze's greatest moment came at the World Cup in 2014 when he scored the winning goal to down Lionel Messi and Argentina and secure the trophy for Germany.

His stock was high but a battle with muscular myopathy disease, a type of chronic muscle inflammation, saw him step away and now, five years after he last played for Germany he is in their squad for the Qatar World Cup.

Gotze will be battling Borussia Dortmund's Julian Brandt, Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich, Borussia Monchengladbach's Jonas Hoffman and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan for minutes across Germany's midfield throughout the tournament.

Gotze is the stand-out name among Flick's selection as he enjoys something of a career revival right now with Eintracht Frankfurt.

He is best known for that Man of the Match display in the 2014 final and there will be real hope that he still has the potential to ignite at a tournament, with Germany facing Spain, Japan and Costa Rica in their group..