Stuttgart Missing Two National Players in Europa League Competition - Stuttgart Playing Europa League Without Two National Stars
VfB Stuttgart, the German football club, has revealed its 24-man squad for the upcoming Europa League. However, several key players will be missing from the roster due to UEFA regulations and injuries.
Coach Sebastian Hoeneß expressed that the task of selecting the squad was difficult, as he had to inform some players that they are not on the list for the competition. Among those left out are Leonidas Stergiou, Ameen Al-Dakhil, Noah Darvich, Justin Diehl, Yannik Keitel, Pascal Stenzel, Silas, Nikolas Nartey, and Stefan Drljaca.
Stergiou, who previously participated with Switzerland in the Euro 2022 in Germany, and Al-Dakhil, who has made six appearances for Belgium so far, will be sidelined due to injuries. Darvich, signed from Barcelona's youth academy in the summer, is also not part of the squad.
The conversations between Hoeneß and the players regarding the squad selection were not always easy. The club's coach acknowledged that he does not understand the regulations but acknowledges that they exist. The regulations require a minimum number of locally trained players, a rule that prevented Nick Woltemade from being registered for the Champions League last season. Despite this, Woltemade made a name for himself at VfB Stuttgart and even became a national player, eventually moving to English top club Newcastle United for up to 90 million euros.
The Europa League regulations do not apply to transfers of players to foreign clubs. Woltemade, therefore, will not be participating in the group stage of the competition, which will begin for VfB Stuttgart on September 25, with a home game against Spanish La Liga side Celta Vigo.
The final of the Europa League will take place on May 20, 2026, in Istanbul, Turkey. The club will have to navigate the group stage without several key players, but they will be hoping for a strong performance and a chance to compete in the latter stages of the competition.
