A late appointee opens up new options for the national coach on the USA trip before the 2024 European Football Championship in Germany: Pascal Groß recommends himself as the captain’s midfield partner. With G & G into the future? And where will Bayern star Joshua Kimmich go?
Pascal Groß was indignantly rejecting the reporter’s call for duel announcements to Joshua Kimmich when Rudi Völler pointed his finger at him a few meters away.
The DFB sports director just spoke about the good decision to declare Ilkay Gündogan captain of the national football team on the way to the home European Championship in 2024. “And it was also a good decision to nominate him,” said Völler after the 3-1 win against the USA and before the test against Mexico, pointing the finger at Groß.
By the way, both decisions go back to Hansi Flick. But Julian Nagelsmann brought them together on the trip to the USA.
DFB team: Flick spoke out in favor of Groß and Gündogan
Triple winner Gündogan and new national player Groß played together for the first time in Hartford and complemented each other as a double six like two long-time confidants. Suddenly, completely new European Championship options open up for the new national coach, possibly to the detriment of two well-known Bayern professionals.
Brighton professional Groß, who was called up late at the age of 32, could become a serious midfield competitor to Joshua Kimmich, who returned from America with illness, and Leon Goretzka, who is falling back in the hierarchy.
“Everyone has the chance to keep their place. It’s the principle of performance,” replied Nagelsmann when asked whether newcomer Groß could also maintain his place if the experienced Kimmich (80 international matches), who has been a regular in the national team for years, returns.
Of course, the calm Great did not allow himself to be enticed by the explosive topic. He didn’t want to call for a duel with Kimmich for the place next to Gündogan. “No, because I know my role,” he replied. Tall is not a great speaker. The versatile person prefers to let actions speak for themselves. And numbers like in the USA game: pass rate 93 percent, tackle rate 100 percent.
DFB team: Nagelsmann praises Groß highly
Fast-talker Nagelsmann praised Groß highly. “Pascal did very well. He is a player who is incredibly involved in football. He is very clever in space, very clever at binding opponents, very courageous and also has good counter-pressing. And of course he can do a wide variety of things Play positions.”
The former Bundesliga professional from FC Ingolstadt is now in his seventh year playing for Brighton & Hove Albion in England – and as a top performer.
“He’s actually been going under the radar in Germany for several years. Nobody in Ingolstadt really paid attention to him. He’s been playing very well in the Premier League for several years now,” said Nagelsmann.
He’s already a big fan because he radiates and lives what Nagelsmann wants: “He also has a sparkle in his eyes. The national team is something special for him. He’s on fire! He’s simply a very smart and intelligent footballer .”
DFB team: Groß complements Gündogan perfectly
And that makes him a perfect fit for Gündogan. In his 70th international match, he may have had exactly the type of player at his side that he always needed as an ideal complement.
“Pascal and Ilkay did very well because they are simply very smart,” noted Nagelsmann: “They move very well in the space between the lines, they are very difficult to defend. So the G & G duo as a future solution?
If it’s up to you, you’re welcome. He didn’t rave about himself after the USA appearance, but rather praised the man at his side. “Ilkay gives every player a good feeling. He is an absolute top player who has incredible game intelligence and ball security. I felt comfortable on the pitch, we did well,” said Adjutant Groß.
As a fall discovery and DFB whiz kid, he opens up completely new European Championship options for the national coach. Big is now on the tournament radar. And Nagelsmann could possibly think about things this way: If Gündogan and Groß harmonize well again on Wednesday (2:00 a.m./ARD) against Mexico, Nagelsmann could think intensively about a right-back Kimmich. And close a major construction site in the DFB team.