First DFB squad of the year
What surprise does Nagelsmann provide?
March 11, 2024, 1:09 p.m
Newcomers, comebackers or former prank candidates? On Thursday, national coach Nagelsmann named the first DFB squad of the year. The nomination could also be a clear pointer to the home European Championship. Who can have hope? The overview.
On Thursday, Julian Nagelsmann will announce his squad for the upcoming international matches in France (March 23) and against the Netherlands (March 26). Some players have recently become the focus of the national coach – newcomers, comebackers, but also supposed candidates for elimination can hope for a nomination. It gives an overview.
Waldemar Anton: Many fans believe that guys like the captain of VfB Stuttgart are urgently needed in the DFB team. Anton, a tough defender with a straightforward game, is considered a football worker. For him, the well-being of the team is “always most important,” he recently told the “Bild” newspaper. He was asked after the 2-0 win against Union Berlin on Friday evening whether he had already found out about a nomination. His answer: “Let’s be surprised.”
Maximilian Beier: The TSG Hoffenheim whiz kid recently drew attention again with two braces in nine days. The 21-year-old youngster’s European Championship applications speak for themselves. Nagelsmann will hardly be able to avoid a nomination for the fast striker when he announces his squad on March 14th.
Jan-Niklas Beste: After the historic Bundesliga promotion with 1. FC Heidenheim, the man with the distinctive beard quickly made a name for himself in the upper house. Beste has elevated standards to an art form. It feels like every corner and every free kick that the left winger takes radiates danger. Beste denied reports of a phone call with Nagelsmann on Saturday, but his strong record of seven goals and ten assists for the promoted team should be sufficient as an application anyway.
Maximilian Mittelstädt: After mixed years at Hertha BSC, the left-back has experienced a completely unexpected career high since moving to VfB Stuttgart. Under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, Mittelstädt is an absolute regular player and shines on the left flank, especially through his strong interaction with Chris Führich. Nagelsmann, who recently even tried out Arsenal attacker Kai Havertz in the vacant position at the back left, should have had the 26-year-old on his list for a long time.
Aleksander Pavlovic: FC Bayern’s shooting star attracted attention this season with strong performances in defensive midfield. A nomination for the U21 was apparently firmly planned, but now Pavlovic could be enough for the senior national team. The Serbian association, for which the 19-year-old would also be eligible to play, is apparently putting a lot of pressure on him. Pavlovic wouldn’t play for the DFB if he played in the upcoming test matches, but it would definitely be a signal.
Deniz Undav: 14 goals, 5 assists: The raw numbers speak for themselves – and they speak for the nomination of the top scorer from VfB Stuttgart. The currently most successful German Bundesliga goalscorer, who VfB has borrowed from English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion, can have high hopes for a call from Nagelsmann.
Christian Günter: A DFB nomination would be nothing new for the captain of SC Freiburg: he made his debut for Germany ten years ago shortly before the World Cup in Brazil. Günter was appointed to the squad for the 2021 European Championships under Joachim Löw and to the 2022 World Cup squad by Hansi Flick – but he did not get a game. After a long-term broken arm, he celebrated his successful comeback in Freiburg in February – and could return to the national team in March.
Leon Goretzka: The midfielder, like almost all of his Bayern colleagues, has recently been in a slump in form and was considered a hot candidate for Nagelsmann to be eliminated. In the convincing victories against Lazio Rome and FSV Mainz 05, Goretzka also showed great improvement and even shone against Mainz with two goals and two assists. Maybe the turnaround will come just in time.