Lennart Karl has an exciting few weeks ahead of him: the 18-year-old is set to make his debut for the German national team and is due to play for FC Bayern at his dream club.
Leroy Sané has regained his place in national team manager Julian Nagelsmann’s squad and stands a good chance of making the World Cup squad. Dietmar Hamann takes a very critical view of this.
Dietmar Hamann has urged Julian Nagelsmann to ensure Bayern Munich starlet Lennart Karl is on the plane for the upcoming World Cup, claiming the teenage sensation already plays like a veteran. The former Liverpool and Germany midfielder believes the 18-year-old offers a unique threat that the national team simply cannot do without on the biggest stage.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann has announced his final squad ahead of the World Cup squad selection. Jonas Urbig and Lennart Karl have deservedly made the cut, whilst a U-turn could be on the cards in midfield.
Deniz Undav made headlines in the run-up to the DFB squad announcement. Contact with Julian Nagelsmann had recently been deliberately kept to a minimum.
For Julian Nagelsmann, the World Cup squad is not yet set in stone, even after the March selection. Nevertheless, it will be difficult for VfB Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller – who has once again been left out – to get back in the running.
In the summer of 2014, Germany didn’t just win the World Cup on Brazilian soil - they left behind one of the most powerful and unexpected symbols of unity football has ever seen. Beyond the unforgettable 7–1 semi-final victory over the hosts, a match that shocked the world, a red and black jersey came to represent something deeper than victory or defeat: respect, empathy, and an unlikely bond between two footballing nations. This is Icons, a GOAL feature and podcast series that revisits the last 10 World Cups through the moments, characters, and controversies that defined them, bringing the spirit of each tournament back to life.
Despite a long spell on the sidelines due to injury, Jamal Musiala is one of the DFB team’s main hopes for the World Cup. However, he is now set to miss some key friendlies.
Hardly any other player embodies VfB Stuttgart’s meteoric rise under manager Sebastian Hoeneß – from relegation candidates to a top-flight club – more than Maximilian Mittelstädt. Yet this summer, the success story faces a bittersweet conclusion.
USMNT manager Mauricio Pochettino revealed that Noahkai Banks declined the opportunity to represent the USMNT this March, as the highly rated center back is still trying to determine his international future. The teenager, who has become a regular for Augsburg this season, can play for both Germany and the United States - and is yet to declare who he will represent.
Former national player Michael Ballack has been highly critical of former national coach Joachim Löw regarding his serious injury in the run-up to the 2010 World Cup.
Chelsea and Germany legend Michael Ballack fought back the tears as he spoke about the death of his 18-year-old son for the first time. The former midfielder's world was turned upside down in 2021 when his son, Emilio, passed away after a tragic quad bike accident during a family holiday in Portugal.
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has sent a clear warning to his squad ahead of the 2026 World Cup, suggesting that high-profile names could be left out of his final selection. As the nation prepares for upcoming friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana later this month, Nagelsmann has indicated that club status will not guarantee a seat on the plane to North America, emphasising that team chemistry and specific tactical profiles will take precedence over reputation.
Germany
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