Duesseldorf, Oct 8: Florian Wirtz is only 21 and he’s already one of the most experienced players in a new-look Germany team.
As Germany switches focus to the 2026 World Cup, injuries, retirements and a short-term focus on Euro 2024 have left it with a Nations League squad that lacks international experience but isn’t especially young either.
Wirtz, the star attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen, is the second youngest player in the squad but also the fifth most experienced player on 25 caps, as Germany prepares to play Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday and the Netherlands on Monday.None of the three goalkeepers in the squad – Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel and Oliver Blaswich – have ever played for Germany. With Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen injured for months to come, one of them will have to step up.Six of coach Julian Nagelsmann’s preferred players were unavailable with injuries as of Tuesday; Leipzig left back David Raum the latest to drop out.
New faces such as Jamie Leweling, Jonny Burkardt and Tim Kleindienst are Bundesliga regulars but untested at international level.
“Though it’s a shame that this time we have to do without some injured regulars who contributed through the home Euros in the summer, we’re very much looking forward to seeing our new players in the team environment and in training,” coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Monday in remarks reported by dpa.Even before Bayern’s Jamal Musiala, Arsenal’s Kai Havertz and West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug all dropped out injured, Germany’s squad was looking threadbare after a spate of high-profile retirements following the run to the quarterfinals at Euro 2024.Toni Kroos, Manuel Neuer, Ilkay Gündogan and Thomas Müller called time on Germany after Euro 2024. (AP)
