Nagelsmann Announces WM Surprises: Some Stars May Face Limited Roles

“Not Expecting Universal Understanding”

National Team Coach Nagelsmann Announces World Cup Surprises

Germany’s World Cup preparations are entering a critical phase. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann has a plan for the tournament in the US, Mexico, and Canada, but it may not be universally popular.

Joshua Kimmich will continue at right back, Oliver Baumann is the number one goalkeeper, and Julian Nagelsmann has finalized key personnel decisions ahead of the World Cup year, even as too hinting at surprises to come in the squad. “There will be decisions, I can already reveal that, which will probably not meet with great understanding. Not from the players, but also not from the general public, because perhaps a player will not be planned for the starting eleven with us, who is a regular and top performer at his club,” Nagelsmann said in an interview with Kicker.

the 38-year-vintage coach will leave out some well-known names for the World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada (June 11 to July 19). “You have to pay extremely close attention to how a player deals with it when he is squad place 15 or 16 with us, even though he is a top-6 player at his club. Can a player grow into such a role with us, even if he is a regular at his club, or not?” Nagelsmann explained. “There are players who cannot fulfill this role well with us. And that, as I already emphasized before the European Championship, is not about a good or a disappointing character, but about who is made for which position.”

Nagelsmann notably left out Leon Goretzka from the squad during the 2024 home European Championship. However, the midfielder now holds a different standing in the German national team’s double-six formation. “As things stand, Leon Goretzka, despite limited playing time at Bayern, will have good chances to play and have a similar role to the World Cup qualifiers. Because he is one who also goes into the penalty area, is strong in the air, and brings good power,” Nagelsmann stated.

Aleksandar Pavlović and Felix Nmecha do not complement each other optimally from the national team coach’s perspective. “We require a slightly different profile for the more offensive part, but one of the two definitely has a good chance of playing,” said Nagelsmann, who feels there is a lack of a “really stable, strong tackler – also in the air” in Germany.

Captain Kimmich will play on the right side of defense. “Yes, that remains the case,” Nagelsmann confirmed. In goal, he is relying on Baumann from Hoffenheim, although he is leaving a window open for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen. “Of course, Oli will be in goal in March and will create amends. I already said during the draw for the Nations League that one component is with Marc and the other is that Oli did an outstanding job,” Nagelsmann said.