World Cup qualification
Nagelsmann strokes Füllkrug from the squad – Brown as a newcomer
Julian Nagelsmann surprises with his selection of the new DFB squad: Füllkrug and Mittelstädt are missing, Brown is there for the first time. What else changes on the contingent.
Julian Nagelsmann surprisingly avoided fan favorite Niclas Füllkrug for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. Maximilian Mittelstädt and Pascal Groß were not nominated by the national coach after the disappointing start to the elimination round for the 2026 tournament.
In addition to the returnee and hope of Nico Schlotterbeck from Borussia Dortmund, Nagelsmann was the only newcomer to Frankfurter Nathaniel Brown. The 22-year-old replaces the Stuttgart Mittelstädt as an option for the left wing in the 24-player contingent.
“Two victories-that is our clear goal to continue to achieve the World Cup qualification directly. Even if we still have to do without some players, we are convinced: Our squad has the quality to make it better than last,” said Nagelsmann.
Young trio for the attack
Back in the squad of the national football team, the recently not taken into account are Aleksandar Pavlovic from FC Bayern Munich, Felix Nmecha from Borussia Dortmund and the Frankfurt Jonathan Burkardt (25), who was nominated for the attack with Maximilian Beier (22) and Nick Woltemade (23). However, Füllkrug (32), who is looking for his top form at West Ham United, is not there.
Surprisingly, Leipzig’s right full-back Ridle Baku also gets a chance in the DFB selection after a long time.
Sané is still missing from the DFB
Nagelsmann has to do without the injured regulars Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Marc-André Ter Stegen and Antonio Rüdiger. Leroy Sané received no invitation again, who has to prove himself in his new club Galatasaray Istanbul, according to Nagelsmann.
As the third goalkeeper behind Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim) and Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart), the Augsburger Finn Dahmen was preferred to Noah Atubolu from SC Freiburg.
Legend to Slovakia
The DFB-Elf started the elimination round for the 2026 World Cup with a disappointing 0-2 defeat in Slovakia. Through the following 3: 1 against Northern Ireland, Nagelsmann and his team go to Slovakia in the next double matchday with a deficit of three points.
In Sinsheim, Germany will meet Group Light Luxembourg on October 10 (8:45 p.m./ARD). On October 13 (8:45 p.m./RTL) the game in Belfast will follow Northern Ireland.
Playoffs threaten in March
Only the group winner qualifies directly for the World Cup finals in the USA, Canada and Mexico. If the national team missed the top, it would have to secure participation in two playoff rounds in March 2026. Germany has never missed a World Cup for sporting reasons.
Transparency note: The star belongs to RTL Germany.
Dpa
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Source: Stern
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