Oldest field player in the DFB squad
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Pascal Groß is the experienced outfield player in national coach Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup squad. At 34, the Brighton professional is the oldest in the squad after goalkeepers Manuel Neuer (40) and Oliver Baumann (35) and is still one of the 17 German World Cup debutants. He spoke to “Kicker” about the World Cup and about saying goodbye to Borussia Dortmund in the winter, which made it possible for him to take part in the finals.
In the first half of the season, the midfielder shuttled between starting eleven, joker role and bench position – not enough for a player with World Cup ambitions. When asked whether his transfer from BVB back to Brighton was the best decision of his career, Groß said: “In any case, it was a very good decision. I was able to play regularly again, in the Premier League, plus getting into the European Cup and now taking part in the World Cup.”
In order to have Groß there, Nagelsmann left, among others, Bayern talent Tom Bischof, RB Leipzig’s Assan Ouédraogo and Leeds United’s Anton Stach at home. “We didn’t nominate them for various reasons. There is a lot of competition in Tom’s position. I think his appearances were good. However, he hasn’t played in many decisive games yet. I told him that he was incredibly close. I think very highly of him,” said Nagelsmann, explaining his decision.
Although Bischof played 38 times for Bayern in his debut season, once more than a big player for Brighton and BVB, the veteran was on the pitch around 900 minutes longer than Bischof. With his 2 million euro transfer to Brighton, he laid the foundation for his place in the DFB squad – “the best case scenario that I had hoped for with this step has come true.” In the first half of the season, BVB, alongside World Cup driver Felix Nmecha, also had 30 million new signing Jobe Bellingham, Marcel Sabitzer and Chelsea loanee Carney Chukwuemeka in the central midfield. Everyone except Bellingham is going to the World Cup.
Dortmund coach Niko Kovac doesn’t hold it against Groß that his minutes have become rarer: “Football is always a matter of opinion, you always have to see where a player fits in or not, also with a view to the systems. (…) But I don’t regret my time at Borussia Dortmund at all and I don’t hold any grudges either. I just went my own way.”
Big on role at the World Cup: “Ego must be put aside”
In Brighton, the veteran was immediately part of the permanent staff under coach Fabian Hürzeler, who came in the summer of 2024 when Groß moved to Borussia. “We have a good, close relationship. This applies especially to the experienced players, of which I am one. We have a so-called ‘leadership group’ in which we regularly exchange ideas with the coach,” reveals Groß, who finished with the Seagulls in the table ahead of Chelsea, Newcastle and Tottenham, among others, and qualified for the Conference League.
In his position, Groß is likely to be scheduled as a substitute in the German squad, and he assesses his role accordingly: “I can bring stability and security. And if I don’t play, then I want to fulfill my part by being useful to the team, bringing in energy and supporting the others. And everyone who isn’t in the top eleven has this role. That can change from game to game.” In a long tournament, “ego doesn’t play a role, ego has to be put aside,” emphasizes Groß. “When you’re needed, you have to be in the best condition possible. No matter if it’s for a minute, five minutes or longer.”
When asked whether the national coach’s decision to bring Manuel Neuer out of DFB retirement for the World Cup caused a loss of trust among some national players, Groß replied with an example from 2024. “For me, Julian Nagelsmann’s credibility has not suffered at all. Sport, especially football, is a daily business that always requires difficult decisions. Toni Kroos came back to the 2024 European Championships, which in retrospect was a stroke of luck for Germany And for us as a team, there are exceptional players who we shouldn’t miss if possible.”
Groß’ contract with Brighton runs until 2027, and the veteran wants to fulfill this. Then the midfielder, who trained at TSG Hoffenheim, would break the 300 game mark.
