Today Nagelsmann nominates
Are you the surprises in the DFB squad?
27.08.2025 – 1:57 p.m.Reading time: 4 min.
On Wednesday, the national coach nominates the DFB squad. Sports director Rudi Völler had announced “some surprises”. Who could that be?
Northern Ireland, Slovakia and Luxembourg instead of Italy, Portugal and France. With the upcoming World Cup qualification, German opponents are a few numbers smaller than in the Nations League. Slovakia and Northern Ireland should not underestimate the DFB selection in particular.
Slovakia has several internationally experienced players in the contingent with players like Dávid Hancko (Atlético Madrid), Stanislav Lobotka (SSC Naples) and Milan Škriniar (Fenerbahçe Istanbul). And Northern Ireland has a lot to offer, especially on the defensive. Liverpool’s defense talent Connor Bradley, for example. Or Trai Hume, who played a key role in the Premier League climbing of the AFC Sunderland.
Nevertheless, the six World Cup qualification games up to and including November offer national coach Julian Nagelsmann the chance to try some new players a year before the World Cup. If this Wednesday at 5 p.m. the DFB squad will be announced for the upcoming international matches in September, according to sports director Rudi Völler, “some surprises” will be included. There may also be several U21 vice-European champions. “There are players who have pushed themselves out,” said Völler on Tuesday. “There are some there, I am convinced that you will see some of the A national team.” Völler none names. In view of the problem areas of the DFB team, individual players focus on.
A German construction site is and remains out of the defense. The staff ceiling is particularly thin on the right. Benjamin Henrichs is still under construction after an Achilles tendon tear, Joshua Kimmich is supposed to move back into the defensive midfield. Maybe Nagelsmann solves the problem with a returnee. Ridle Baku (four caps) is a regular at RB Leipzig, and the 27-year-old does not lack the practice. So far, he has no role in the plans of the national coach, maybe that changes for the September international matches.
But it is also possible that Nagelsmann Namdi Collins nominated by Eintracht Frankfurt. The 1.91 -meter -tall defender is currently set at Eintracht, also impresses with its flexibility, can defend on the right and in the center. A property that should also accommodate the national coach who allows a varied system to be played. The German defense also highlights, whereby Collins could help at his pace. In the past Bundesliga season, the 21-year-old was measured at a top speed of 35.77 kilometers per hour. He was faster than players like Leroy Sané or David.