Was still set for 2024
©IMAGO
Robert Andrich is the next professional not taken into account by national coach Julian Nagelsmann, who confirmed when asked that he had not yet given up on his World Cup dream. “I haven’t booked a vacation yet, hope dies last,” said the 31-year-old defensive all-rounder and captain of Bayer 04 Leverkusen on “Sky” after the 2-0 defeat in the cup final against Bayern Munich. Recently, players like Robin Gosens (31) and Benjamin Henrichs (29) had made similar statements. How would you set up the squad? Here you can be a Nagelsmann yourself!
Andrich has so far played 19 international matches for the German national team; he was in defensive midfield at the 2024 European Championships in his own country – as well as in the Nations League games until the end of the year. From 2025 onwards, Nagelsmann relied less and less on the six, who can also play in central defense. In eight games in the squad, he was only substituted on three times in the final phase, otherwise he sat on the bench. Andrich was completely absent from the last two courses.
In the second half of the season he was occasionally on the bench for the Werkself, but has been used for the current season and has a starting eleven quota of 83 percent in the Bundesliga. In 42 games, Andrich contributed two goals and three assists – and plenty of leadership. “I want to be there and I have something that is very good for a group,” he said, referring to the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
In central midfield and central defense, national coach Nagelsmann is spoiled for choice. Captain Joshua Kimmich (31) will probably be in the right-back position. In the test against Ghana (2:1), veteran Pascal Groß (34) and the strong Angelo Stiller (25), who in turn replaced the unavailable Aleksandar Pavlovic (21), played in the double six. Previously in Switzerland in the 4:3, Stiller formed the team with Leon Goretzka (31). In addition, Anton Stach (27) was back in the squad after a long time. It is currently unclear when Felix Nmecha (25), who is actually probably playing, will be fit again after tearing the lateral ligament in his knee, and Nadiem Amiri (29) was also recently injured. Theoretically, the talents Tom Bischof (20) and Assan Ouédraogo (19) could also be considered.
