Teenage midfielder Julian Draxler linked up with the Germany squad for their Euro 2012 training camp on Friday and packed maths books to help study for his university entrance exams while he is away.
"I have packed a few school books, because I will be missing a lot of studies," explained the 18-year-old Schalke 04 midfielder before flying with the squad to Sardinia for the first of two Mediterranean training camps.
"There are a few maths books in there, because that is where I am most in danger of failing. But for now, football comes first for me."
As one of the surprises in coach Joachim Loew's provisional Euro 2012 squad, Draxler has impressed with a series of eye-catching performances.
"This is all new territory for me. I expect that I will learn a lot," said Draxler, who only discovered he had made Loew's squad after reading an email during a study break.
"I have had a look at the squad to see who is here, as a football fan, but also as part of the team."
Draxler was one of only 11 players to fly to Sardinia on Friday with Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund and Champions League finalists Bayern Munich still in action.
Loew also suffered a further set back as midfield stars Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira have been held back by Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Real's board of directors has insisted the pair play in a friendly against the Kuwait national team on May 16 and can not join the German squad until May 20.
"Nothing can surprise me anymore," said Loew.
"I had contact with (Real coach) Jose Mourinho and he told me that he could have done without the players, but it was a decision by the club to take them to Kuwait."
After Sardinia, Loew's squad will relocate to the south of France for a training camp between from May 18-30.
Munich's eight Germany players will also only join the squad after the Champions League final against Chelsea at Bayern's Allianz Arena on May 19.
Loew flies to Sardinia on Sunday after Bayern and Dortmund clash in Saturday's German cup final in Berlin.
Euro 2012, to be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland kicks off on June 8 and in their opening matches of Group B, Loew's side will come up against Portugal, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Source: AFP
