World Cup qualification against Slovakia
Nagelsmann lets newling start: this is the DFB starting eleven
Updated on 04.09.2025 – 7:36 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
At the start of the World Cup qualification, the national coach is converting the German team in some places. A debutant comes directly to his first assignment.
First game in the qualification for the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the USA and Mexico-and at the guest appearance in Slovakia on Thursday evening (from 8.45 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online), national coach Julian Nagelsmann and the German national team want to win the first victory.
And Nagelsmann naturally starts with the necessary seriousness. The 38-year-old sends this team into the race against Slovakia:
Above all, it is striking: debutant Namdi Collins is directly in the starting eleven. The 21-year-old moves to the right defense side, which was released into midfield after the restoration of Joshua Kimmich.
As announced, Oliver Baumann represents Marc-André ter Stegen, as announced. In addition to Collins, returnees Antonio Rüdiger and Jonathan Tah form the defense center, on the left Maximilian Mitteldstädt defends. Sechser Kimmich gets the Stuttgart Angelo Stiller aside, and Leon Goretzka, which is also offered, should therefore act more aggressively. The outside of Serge Gnabry and Florian Wirtz are supposed to supply strikers Nick Woltemade.
“Now it applies, now it counts!”, Sports Director Rudi Völler of the German national soccer team called at a DFB press conference before the game, and clear: “We want to play a very, very good role next year. Of course, we prefer to be at the top of the podium!”
But first applies: “Piano, piano”. That means: First of all, qualify in the feasible group A with the other opponents of Northern Ireland and Luxembourg. Already on Sunday the game will continue against Northern Ireland in Cologne (from 8:45 p.m. in the live ticker at T-Online).