Neustädter gets Russian passport ahead of Euro

The 28-year-old Schalke player has already played two international friendlies for Germany

Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin decreed that Roman Neustädter be granted Russian citizenship. PHOTO: AFP

MOSCOW:
Twice-capped Germany international Roman Neustädter has received a Russian passport allowing the defender to play for the country at the Euro, a post on the national team's Twitter site announced on Monday.

The Twitter site posted a picture of the 28-year-old Schalke player holding up his new Russian passport at Russia's Consulate in Bonn.



Neustädter -- who was born in the Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk during the Soviet era -- has played two international friendlies for Germany, but that did not compromise his eligibility to play for Russia.

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Earlier this month, President Vladimir Putin decreed that Neustädter be granted Russian citizenship.


Russian manager Leonid Slutsky has included Neustädter on his 23-man squad for the European Championship which gets underway in France on June 10.

The squad also includes Brazilian-born goalkeeper Guilherme of Lokomotiv Moscow, who received Russian citizenship last year.

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Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko said in January that the country was working to grant Neustädter a passport but that the process was not simple.

Russia, the host nation for the 2018 World Cup, have been drawn alongside England, Wales and Slovakia in Group B for Euro 2016.

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Russia will play pre-tournament friendlies against the Czech Republic on June 1 before facing Serbia four days later.
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