Football
Jens Weber 9y

Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker may be denied Olympic chance with Germany

Philip Lahm and Per Mertesacker could be denied the chance to represent Germany at the 2016 Olympic Games.

German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung has reported that Bayern Munich captain Lahm and Arsenal centre-back Mertesacker, who both retired from international duty after winning the 2014 World Cup, would be interested in playing for Germany in Rio de Janeiro.

Olympic rules permit each team to nominate three players born before Jan. 1, 1993, in their squad, but Germany under-21 coach Horst Hrubesch, who will also lead the Olympic side, said his preference would be to take the overage players who have reached the semifinals at this summer's European Under-21 Championship.

Eight members of Hrubesch's current squad -- Bernd Leno, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Robin Knoche, Julian Korb, Felix Klaus, Moritz Leitner, Yunus Malli and Kevin Volland -- were born in 1992.

By reaching the semifinal stage, Germany also secured a place in the Olympic football tournament, and Hrubesch said in Die Welt: "If they are available, we will definitely take them with us."

Sweden have also qualified for the Olympics after reaching the last four at the European Under-21 Championship, and Paris Saint-Germain star Zlatan Ibrahimovic has said he would consider playing in Rio.

Ibrahimovic told Sportbladet: "It's all about how the situation looks at that point, but if I have the chance to represent my Sweden at an Olympics, why not?"

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