Broadened coach Julian Nagelsmann nominates two newbies for the Final Four in the Nations League. No surprise, says T-Online expert Stefan Effenberg-and praises Nagelsmann for a difficult decision.
Ex-international Stefan Effenberg welcomed Tom Bishop’s surprising nomination for the upcoming international matches of the German national team in the Nations League. “In a weak season of TSG Hoffenheim, he protruded and was one of the few with constant good performances. In this respect, his appointment does not come out of nowhere, but is deserved.” Effenberg also notes: “Now he can show himself in the Nations League for the national team on a larger stage before he has to do the coming season at Bayern more often.” The 19-year-old bishop will play with the German record champion from summer.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann nominated two attackers from VfB Stuttgart for the two games at the beginning of June – also as a replacement for the injured Gladbacher Tim Kleindienst. Effenberg supports Nagelsmann’s decision: “Also the nominations of the Stuttgart Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav are absolutely understandable and logical,” says Effenberg and particularly emphasizes the development of Woltemade (32 competitive games, 16 goals 2024/25): “He took a big step forward in the past season and also increased with regularly strong appearances for national team pushed. ” Undav (37/12), however, “after a phase of weakness, is on the right track again.”
Back in the DFB squad, goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen (FC Barcelona) and striker Niclas Füllkrug (West Ham United), who were injured for a long time during the course of the season. Nagelsmann does it right to “bring them back in this way. Now they are back with their national teammates, which will help them and will do good to find their best form after their return.”
Meanwhile, Effenberg can also understand Nagelsmann’s foregoing Jamal Musiala (FC Bayern), Kai Havertz (FC Arsenal) and Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), who, in contrast to Ter Stegen and Füllkrug, are still under construction after their injury breaks. “These two games are too important to be suitable for giving the three to the first minutes of play.” Nagelsmann had explained how difficult he made the decision. Effenberg emphasizes that it is “absolutely right to continue to do without the three. Nagelsmann will certainly have agreed with the team doctors and the clubs and, as he himself indicated, will not take any risk.”
Overall, Effenberg is further impressed by Nagelsmann’s nomination policy: “It is clear that the principle of performance continues and comes first,” says the 56-year-old with a view of Bishop and Woltemade. “And that’s exactly how it has to be.”