Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka will not join Germany in the match against France, which will be played next Tuesday, in the Group F of the European Nations Championship.

"He will not be able to participate in the first match," said team manager Oliver Bierhoff from the team's headquarters in Bavaria.

He continued, "But he is an important player. I am sure he will play an important role in this tournament."

Goretzka, the three-time European champion, scored 13 goals in 32 matches with Germany and is in a race to catch up in the next match against Portugal on June 19 and Hungary four days later.

In the absence of Goretzka, Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) and Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) played defensive midfield during the landslide victory over Latvia (7-1) in a friendly game last Monday.