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Low must use Borussia Dortmund stars at Euro 2012, says Watzke
Posted Wednesday, May 23, 2012 by Goal.com

Low must use Borussia Dortmund stars at Euro 2012, says Watzke

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke is adamant that the club's stars should be used regularly for Germany.

BVB stormed to their second consecutive Bundesliga title recently, breaking the German top-flight's record points tally along the way while also defeating Bayern Munich 5-2 in the DFB-Pokal final.

Five Dortmund players have been included in Germany's provisional squad for Euro 2012 with Mats Hummels, Sven Bender, Marcel Schmelzer, Mario Gotze and Ilkay Gundogan all selected by national team trainer Joachim Low.

With Jurgen Klopp's men top dogs in the Bundesliga at the moment, Watzke believes Low needs to select the BVB contingent for the Euros.

"I think it is completely impossible that no Dortmund player should stand in the starting line-up at the European Championship. For me, this is not an issue," he told Bild.

"If you are the German champions and cup winners, then one must assume that this performance is recognised in accordance with the national team. Jogi Low is a great coach and I assume he will make the right decisions in every case."

Watzke then reserved heavy praise for the Dortmund stars who have make the initial cut, stating: "Players who are at BVB are outstanding in a sporting sense but they also possess personal qualities that can help the national side.

"Players such as Hummels, Gundogan, Gotze, Bender and Schmelzer could play for any big club in the world. Marco Reus would be our sixth player from the selection."

Germany's Euro 2012 campaign begins on June 9 when they face Portugal in Group B.

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia