Baumann and Leweling hit
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This article appeared on Transfermarkt in its first version on October 6th. at 6:16 p.m. and was subsequently updated.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann has to start preparing for the important World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland without the last seeded Oliver Baumann (35). According to the DFB, the TSG Hoffenheim goalkeeper complained of nausea on Monday. It is unclear whether he will be able to train with the team on Tuesday.
Nagelsmann nominated Noah Atubolu from SC Freiburg as a replacement. This is the first call-up to the DFB team for the 23-year-old, who was on call. Atubolu arrived at the meeting point of the German national team in Herzogenaurach on Monday evening. Alexander Nübel (29) from VfB Stuttgart and Finn Dahmen (27) from FC Augsburg are available as further alternatives in goal.
Atubolu had been waiting for Nagelsmann’s call for a long time. But when he arrived, the keeper was asleep: “We came home very late on Sunday night after the game in Mönchengladbach,” said Atubolu, describing the unexpected invitation to Herzogenaurach on his club’s website. “I took a nap after the morning training. When I woke up, there were several missed calls from national goalkeeper coach Andreas Kronenberg and SC goalkeeper coach Michael Müller on my cell phone.” The message to him was that a driver was on the way to pick him up. That evening Atubolu went to Franconia.
“I’m going to the national team with the expectation of being able to absorb everything and learn,” he continued. “It is a huge honor for me to be in the German national team squad.” Atubolu’s premiere had been in the offing for a long time. Even before the September internationals, Nagelsmann called it “a question of time as to when he would join our circle.” The goalkeeper, who was number one for the German U21 team at the European Championships in Slovakia in the summer, is considered the man of the future.
World Cup qualification for the DFB team: In addition to Baumann, Woltemade is also ill
Apart from Nick Woltemade (23), who was ill, Nagelsmann was able to welcome all other players in his squad to the team headquarters on Monday. The first training session was scheduled for the afternoon. The Newcastle professional arrived in the evening, but it is still unclear when he will be able to start training.
There was also another personnel decision in the evening. Because Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling complains of adductor problems, Kevin Schade from FC Brentford was nominated. The 23-year-old has already made four international appearances, most recently in October 2024.
In Franconia, the DFB selection is preparing for the international double pack until Thursday. The national team will face Luxembourg in Sinsheim on Friday, followed by an away game against Northern Ireland in Belfast three days later. After the 0-2 opener in Slovakia, the DFB team is under pressure in Group A. Only the group winner gets the direct World Cup ticket.