The DFB team starts in the World Cup qualification. How much “youth research” dares national coach Julian Nagelsmann on Wednesday (27.08.2025) during his nomination? And who is in the goal?
As soon as the Bundesliga has started, the first international break is on the schedule again. Germany starts the World Cup qualification in Bratislava on September 4 in Bratislava. Three days later, the first home game against Northern Ireland is coming up in Cologne. The last opponent in the fight for the qualification for the XXL tournament, in which 48 teams will take part for the first time, is outsiders Luxembourg.
First duel against Slovakia is extremely important
The opening duel with the most powerful opponent Slovakia can be directly trend-setting for the whole qualification. A clear victory would be an important upholstery in the group of four, from which the first one continues directly and the group second in playoffs for other places to be awarded.
A loss of points would bring high pressure into the coming weeks and would probably also significantly reduce the chance of personnel to personnel before the World Cup. So Nagelsmann will easily put on his established people, especially in the first game in the starting line -up – which does not mean for the nomination that some young players could not put on the bid. Sometimes maybe even have to, because there are one or the other staff construction site. The positions at a glance:
Tor: Ter Stegen fails – what about Atubolu?
Marc -André Ter Stegen is injured – and also no longer number one at FC Barcelona. This brings Nagelsmann into a somewhat difficult situation. Ter Stegen is planned as number one for the World Cup in the coming summer, but its fitness and game practice state for this period is completely open. “I have a great exchange with him, he can correctly assess the situation. He is number one when he is healthy and the number one in the club. He knows that”the national coach had explained in July. But both are currently in the stars.
Oliver Baumann is available as an experienced backup (35), Alexander Nübel (28) has been a candidate for the legacy in the German goal for a long time – but behind it is actually waiting in the hierarchy Noah Atubolu (23). Really behind it? At the U21 European Championship, the Freiburg was the best goalkeeper of the tournament, it would be logical if Nagelsmann appointed him to the squad.
But would he also put it directly between the posts? It is unlikely because an international debut in the most important qualification game could be a risk in Nagelsmann’s eyes in all quality. And also because the national coach would already trigger a public discussion about number one at the coming tournament and would also skip Nübel in the current “ranking”. Another candidate for a nomination with which Nagelsmann definitely postpone such discussions, but would possibly also raise questions about atubolu, would be the Neu-Frankfurt Michael Zetterer (30).
Torwart icon Sepp Maier had even brought into play as an option as an option – but with regard to the World Cup, a nomination of the veteran would have so far that Nagelsmann would not (now) not (now). Most likely: Atubolu is nominated, but at least against Slovakia is not used.
Defense: everything inside the old, but who plays on the right?
Nico Schlotterbeck is still injured, Niklas Süle, who could have been at least a candidate, is also injured. Thilo Kehrer is not set at Monaco. Max Rosenfelder, who showed strong performances in summer as a leading player of the U21 and at SC Freiburg last season, is also injured. This is not a big problem for the starting eleven, because Jonathan Tah and Antonio Rüdiger are set, Robin Koch and Waldemar Anton tried out alternatives behind it.
So does the national coach nominate a “new” candidate for central defense? Finn Jeltsch has apparently lost his regular place near Stuttgart, Bright Arrey-MBI was not clearly set at Braga. Namdi Collins from Eintracht Frankfurt could slide into the squad because he can play on the inside and right. Since Joshua Kimmich should act in the central midfield again in the future, the position on the right defensive side is interesting anyway. Benjamin Henrichs is still missing, so the candidates are sown relatively rare here. Josha Vagnoman, the experienced sweeper or Collins are the possible candidates. On the left, Nathaniel Brown would also be an option for the squad after strong performance on the U21.
Midfield: Are Martel, Reitz or Fog “rewarded”?
In addition to the long -term injured Jamal Musiala, Tom Bishop also fails for the two caps. Otherwise, the national coach can probably draw from the full, because Aleksandar Pavlovic was able to play a short mission at Bayern at least again at the weekend. Cologne’s Eric Martel, Gladbachs Rocco Reitz or the Mainz Paul Nebel are most likely to be questioned for a “reward” nomination from the circle of U21 Vice European champions. After moving to the Premier League, Anton Stach seems “further” from an appointment than before at Hoffenheim, Kevin Schade and Brajan Gruda are not good in theirs Premier League-Season started and probably no candidates.
Attack: Without small service and Havertz – chance for Weiper?
Tim Kleindienst is missing a little longer and Kai Havertz also suffered an injury after good preparation at Arsenal and, according to the association, lacks “indefinitely” after a knee operation. Nick Woltemade and Deniz Undav are set for the squad, the Neu-Frankfurt Jonathan Burkardt should also be nominated again. Niclas Füllkrug is at West Ham Although the season started as a regular player, but also has no goal participation and with his team a goal difference of 1: 8 on the account. However, in view of the failures of small service and Havertz, it will probably appear that Nagelsmann will continue to stick to him.
Benedict Hollerbach might have been an option, but it had to be replaced by Mainz at the weekend. After the disputes with Mainz, Nelson Weiper may also be an option for the national coach with his “real” center-strand profile, Nicolo Tresoldi is not yet a regular at Bruges and is rather out of the question.
Serge Gnabry did a lot of self -promotion in the first Bundesliga game and Leroy Sané has recently entered the scorer list at Galatasaray after rather moderate services. Large experiments appear rather unlikely on the wings, Frankfurt’s Ansgar Knauff is still the candidate who has the best cards for a surprising squad square in this area.