Germany miss key stars as two youngsters called up
Germany will be without several key players for their UEFA Nations League semi-final clash, including Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, and Kai Havertz, confirmed head coach Julian Nagelsmann.
In the absence of these regulars, two fresh faces—striker Nick Woltemade and midfielder Tom Bischof—have received their first-ever call-ups to the senior national team.
Germany will face Portugal, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, in the semi-final on June 4 at the Allianz Arena in Munich. On Thursday, Nagelsmann announced a 26-man squad for the crucial tie.
Woltemade, 23, has been in impressive form for Stuttgart this season, scoring 16 goals and providing 3 assists in 32 matches across all competitions. He’s currently preparing for the DFB-Pokal final this Saturday.
Bischof, 19, has featured in 41 matches for Hoffenheim this season, scoring 6 goals and assisting 3 more. The promising young midfielder recently signed a four-year deal with Bayern Munich.
Nagelsmann chose not to include Kai Havertz, who only just returned to the pitch for Arsenal after recovering from a hamstring injury. Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, forward Tim Kleindienst, and defender Nico Schlotterbeck are also unavailable due to injuries.
However, attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, defender Waldemar Anton, defensive midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović, and forward Niclas Füllkrug have all made it into the squad.
“Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, and Kai Havertz will not be available for the Nations League semi-final,” Nagelsmann confirmed.
In the other semi-final, France will take on Spain on June 5, with the final scheduled for three days later.
Germany’s World Cup qualifiers begin this September, with their opening match against Slovakia.
After winning their fourth World Cup title in 2014, Germany have endured disappointing campaigns in recent global tournaments, exiting in the group stages both times. In a bid to turn things around, Julian Nagelsmann was appointed head coach in September 2023. Under his leadership, the team reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Euro 2024.
