If Karl were to play for an international match, he would become the youngest national player in 115 years and replace the legendary Uwe Seeler in third place in the DFB age ranking. After his magic goals in the Champions League against Bruges and the league against Borussia Mönchengladbach, the call quickly became loud that someone like that could currently help the DFB team.
For Nagelsmann, the primary concern at the end of the year is of course the World Cup ticket. Two wins on November 14th in Luxembourg and three days later in Leipzig against Slovakia – and Germany is guaranteed to take part in the 2026 finals in the USA, Mexico and Canada. But the national coach is already thinking ahead to summer.
Nagelsmann likes to add fresh talent to the squad to see how the potential challengers present themselves among the established players. The mixture then does it. Under no circumstances should they act fearfully, submissively, but still adapted to the team structure. Nagelsmann looks closely and makes clear judgments.
An early nomination also presents dangers. Nnamdi Collins (21) from Eintracht Frankfurt was promoted to the U21 starting eleven by Nagelsmann for the U21 qualifying opener in Slovakia and failed in the 2-0 defeat in Bratislava. At the last World Cup in 2022, Youssoufa Moukoko was the teenage star as a 17-year-old. The early DFB call-up did not serve as a career booster for the former Dortmund player. He now plays for FC Copenhagen.
By the way, Karl could already play in a World Cup. At the current U17 tournament in Qatar. However, the performance level of his peers is no longer his benchmark. FC Bayern had already told the DFB in the spring that Karl would be scheduled for the professional squad and should no longer play with the juniors. Nagelsmann could now be the beneficiary.