However, there are also two big losers from this World Cup qualification. Pascal Groß from Borussia Dortmund has fallen out of the rotation and was no longer nominated by Nagelsmann. And things will now also be very, very tight for one of his BVB team-mates in the national team – and not primarily for sporting reasons: The punishment for illegal weapon possession can have long-term consequences for Karim Adeyemi both at the DFB and in Dortmund, even if neither the association nor the club have yet commented on possible punishments. I’ll just say this: I wasn’t nominated for four years starting in 1994 for a far more harmless offense.
He is threatened with a dramatic fall. He was actually on the right track at the start of the season, was involved in six goals in the first seven games across all competitions, played consistently well and impressed in BVB’s attack. Since then nothing has come, no further goals, no further assists for Dortmund – and he repeatedly missed the best chances in the national team. He should think about why that is the case. And such private stories are neither good for him, both sportily and personally, on the contrary.
Adeyemi is now 23 years old, undeniably extremely talented, with incredible potential – but he risks throwing his career away if he doesn’t come to his senses and finally understand what’s really important. That’s precisely why both Dortmund and the DFB are now obliged to examine his surroundings thoroughly and get him back on track. I’m sure he’ll get the right advice there so that his career doesn’t go to waste. Because that would be tragic.