Aleksandar Pavlovic is set to get his next big chance with the German national team right away. Following his strong performance in the 2-0 win over Serbia, the FC Bayern midfielder will also start Sunday evening’s Nations League match against Greece.
National team coach Jürgen Klopp confirmed the 22-year-old’s spot in the starting lineup during the press conference ahead of the match in Thessaloniki. However, the 59-year-old coach did not want to reveal his plans for the rest of the lineup just yet.
For Pavlovic, this latest call-up is yet another sign that he has consistently impressed during the current international break. Against Serbia, he put in a strong performance alongside his Bayern teammate Tom Bischof in central midfield.
Klopp jokes about Pavlovic
Klopp announced with a laugh that Pavlovic would also start against Greece. “I told him just before the press conference that he couldn’t talk his way out of the team,” explained the national team coach.
Klopp, however, remained tight-lipped about the rest of his lineup decisions. When asked about his full starting lineup, he simply replied, “You’ll really have to wait until tomorrow for that.”
So far, the only thing that’s certain is that Pavlovic is once again set to play a central role. The Bayern Munich player had made a strong impression in the victory over Serbia. Klopp subsequently raved about his presence and emphasized that Pavlovic could be found practically all over the field.
The 22-year-old himself had also recently made it clear what he aims to achieve on the DFB team. “Ultimately, the coach decides what role I’ll play, but I just want to bring my strengths to the team when I play—control the game when I have the ball, press when we don’t have it, get into tackles, and help the team both defensively and offensively.”
Pavlovic continues to prove himself worthy of greater responsibilities
His second consecutive start is particularly interesting given the competition in the German midfield. Joshua Kimmich and Felix Nmecha are not part of the second DFB squad, which has opened up an opportunity for Pavlovic and Bischof to draw more attention to themselves.
Against Serbia, both Bayern pros seized this opportunity. Pavlovic impressed as a technically skilled yet aggressive midfielder, while Bischof made an additional splash with his first international goal.
Klopp made it clear afterward, however, that he did not want this to spark a fundamental debate about Kimmich. Nevertheless, with every convincing performance, the competitive pressure in the midfield is growing.
Pavlovic now has his next opportunity against Greece. Having stated his intention to control the game, he’ll have the chance to do just that from the start. He certainly has the confidence of his national team coach.