Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann presents his squad for the upcoming international matches. He explains why he is not relying on Leon Goretzka from FC Bayern.
The squad for Germany’s international matches in France (23 March) and against the Netherlands (26 March) has been presented and, as expected, FC Bayern’s Leon Goretzka is not included. Meanwhile, national coach Julian Nagelsmann nominated Goretzka’s Munich team-mate Aleksandar Pavlovic for the senior national team for the first time.
Nagelsmann explained his decision against Goretzka as follows: „Leon has been much more stable in recent games. That is correct. Nevertheless, it’s about finding the right players for the roles. I can see two other players up front in terms of the first eleven. You simply have to find the right players to fill the roles behind them. And we’ve had others in mind right now.“
Nagelsmann added: „The same applies to Leon as to everyone else: Through very good performances and an understanding as far as the roles are concerned, there’s no door closed. I’ve told him that too.“
Nagelsmann: „You don’t like doing that either“
The former Bayern coach reported on Goretzka’s reaction to not being nominated: „Of course he was frustrated, sad and disappointed. Of course it’s not a pleasant conversation when you’ve coached a player like that at the club. I think everyone can imagine that. You don’t like doing that either.“
Nagelsmann said of the 19-year-old newcomer Pavlovic, who could also play for Serbia due to his dual citizenship: „It’s not a political nomination. I didn’t have to convince him to play for Germany either. It was his wish. And he has simply performed very well. Very dominant, very stable, one of the most stable at Bayern recently, and also someone who talks in the dressing room and coaches his team-mates. We’ll see whether that’s enough for the European Championships, but he’s developed very well.“
Nagelsmann explained that Pavlovic’s nomination and his omission were not connected:„That has nothing to do with it. The decision was not between Aleks and Leon.“
The German squad for the next international matches at a glance:
Goal: Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim), Bernd Leno (FC Fulham), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (FC Barcelona)
Defence: Waldemar Anton (VfB Stuttgart), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstädt (VfB Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfield: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Chris Führich (VfB Stuttgart), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ilkay Gündogan (FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Aleksander Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen), Jan-Niklas Beste (1. FC Heidenheim)
Attack: Maximilian Beier (TSG Hoffenheim), Niclas Füllkrug (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (FC Arsenal), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Deniz Undav (VfB Stuttgart)
