The German national football team will embark on a crucial phase of their World Cup qualifying campaign with upcoming matches against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland. Head coach Julian Nagelsmann announced a 24-player squad on Thursday, featuring a blend of fresh talent and experienced returnees.
A notable inclusion is Eintracht Frankfurt defender Nathaniel Brown, who earns his first call-up to the senior national team. Brown was instrumental in Germany’s UEFA Under-21 European Championship silver medal performance in Slovakia during the summer. Joining him in the squad are teammates Jonathan Burkardt and Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlovic. Borussia Dortmund players Nico Schlotterbeck and Felix Nmecha, along with RB Leipzig’s Ridle Baku, also return to the lineup.
“Two victories – that is our clear goal to continue our path towards direct qualification for the World Cup” stated Nagelsmann. “Even with the continued absence of several players, we are confident that our squad possesses the quality to perform better than previously.
The coach emphasized the significance of Nico Schlotterbeck’s return following the absence of Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger. He also highlighted Brown as “a great talent in defense”. Nagelsmann expressed anticipation for the atmosphere at the sold-out stadium in Sinsheim, a venue he considers personally significant and looked forward to a vibrant encounter with German fans in Belfast.
Germany will first face Luxembourg in Sinsheim on Friday at 8:45 PM local time, followed by a match against Northern Ireland in Belfast on Monday at the same time.
