The national coach is relying on eleven European Championship players for the start of the Nations League. Groß will take over Kroos’ position against Hungary, Füllkrug will play for Gündogan. And there is a new number one in goal.
The German national football team, led by new captain Joshua Kimmich, will play in the expected formation in its first match after the European Championships at home. New Dortmund player Pascal Groß will replace Toni Kroos in midfield for the Nations League opener on Saturday evening in Düsseldorf against Hungary. Robert Andrich will play alongside him.
As announced by national coach Julian Nagelsmann, striker Niclas Füllkrug will take the place of the previous captain Ilkay Gündogan in the offensive. The new number one Marc-André ter Stegen will take the place of DFB record goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who also retired after the home tournament.
“Of course we have lost key players with a lot of experience. (…) It is also a great opportunity for everyone involved, for the coaching team, but also for the team, to usher in a certain new era. We look back with sadness at what the four of them did outstandingly. We are also looking forward and are confident that things will continue very well,” Nagelsmann said on ZDF.
Since defensive leader Antonio Rüdiger is being rested for the start of the new international season and is not part of the squad, the central defence is made up of Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck. Along with Füllkrug, the young stars Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz as well as Kai Havertz are expected to provide goals and scoring opportunities.
The German starting eleven: ter Stegen – Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum – Andrich, Groß – Havertz, Musiala, Wirtz – Füllkrug
Source: Stern
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