Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann recently declared that his squad for the European Championships has already been largely finalised. However, he is still holding out hope for one FC Bayern player.
FC Bayern’s Aleksandar Pavlovic can still hope to be nominated for the European Championship at home this summer. Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said on MagentaTV about the Munich youngster’s chances at the European Championship: „He’s a candidate who might still be able to jump on the European Championship bandwagon.“
Pavlovic had actually already been nominated for the international matches in France and against the Netherlands in March, but then had to cancel due to tonsillitis.
Nagelsmann then extended his contract with the DFB until 2026. This means that he will also be in charge of the national team at the World Cup in two years‘ time in the USA, Mexico and Canada.
With a view to the World Cup, the national coach appears to have plans for Pavlovic. He explained: „My contract extension puts him even more in the spotlight, because we want to build a perspective towards the World Cup.“
Nagelsmann wants to become European champion
Unlike Pavlovic, Nagelsmann did not nominate Bayern stars Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry for the last international matches.
Goretzka made it clear after Bayern’s 5-1 win over Union Berlin last Saturday that he wants to keep fighting for his European Championship ticket: „That’s my clear goal. My attitude is that I always try to be on the pitch and show Julian that I’m there and that I’ll take on the fight,“ the midfielder explained on Sky.
Regardless of who ends up in the squad, Nagelsmann has set the European Championship title as a goal for the DFB team: „When you take part in a tournament or a game, everyone should have the goal of winning it. I think it’s legitimate and healthy to set an example – that we as a coaching staff and as a team are playing for the title,“ said the 36-year-old.
