How will Germany line up at the 2026 World Cup?
With Toni Kroos among four Germany greats to call time on their international careers in 2024, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann is in the process of remodelling his side for a new era. With plenty of young jewels competing to join the likes of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala in the starting XI, we explore his options...
There is optimism in the air around the Germany camp after a feelgood Euro 2024 in which the hosts played some superb football on the way to their first quarter-final appearance at a major tournament since 2016.
Having scored the second-most goals in the tournament (11) and being edged out in an extremely tight encounter with eventual winners Spain, Germany already have a well-functioning unit that coach Nagelsmann can build on in UEFA Nations League encounters and World Cup qualifying.
Passing the baton
The most pressing issue for Nagelsmann in terms of continuing the momentum from summer 2024 is replacing three cornerstones of the side that started the quarter-final. That will not be easy, however, given that the players in question are Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos and İlkay Gündoğan, who all announced their international retirement after the tournament.
Legendary Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer will be missed - as a World Cup winner, one of Germany's most-capped players ever (124) and pioneer of the sweeper-keeper role. He should, however, be relatively straightforward to replace with a hugely experienced understudy long waiting for a chance to shine between the sticks for the national team: Marc-Andre ter Stegen.
Kroos is a different matter, simply because nobody in world football can match his unique skill set of a near-perfect passing ability and phenomenal understanding of the game.
Watch: Aleksandar Pavlovic - from ball boy to Bayern player
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Midfield manouevres
Against Hungary in the UEFA Nations League, where Germany strolled to victory in their first post-Euro 2024 fixture, new Borussia Dortmund signing Pascal Groß was the man asked to slot into a deep-lying midfield position. He certainly boasts the experience and awareness to take on the mantle is his own way, saying: "Nagelsmann has already said he isn't expecting anyone to be exactly like Kroos. That's quite right, I think. Toni is perhaps the greatest German footballer of all time."
Groß's Dortmund team-mate Emre Can was Kroos's partner in the double pivot in the starting line-up against Spain. While his experience as a pure holding midfielder made him a great option against the formidable Spanish attack, it is quite possible Nagelsmann will eventually favour promising Bayern talent Aleksandar Pavlović, who also boasts a dangerous passing range and real ability with a dead ball, as a starter.
Neither got the nod against Hungary, however. Instead, it was Bayer Leverkusen midfield general Robert Andrich, who had started the four previous encounters in the Euros, that partnered Groß. Clearly, his battling ability brings a vital attribute to the national side.
Groß's slick passing could also see him deployed further forward in the higher central position vacated by the retired Gündoğan, which would allow either Can or Pavlović to partner Andrich.
Watch: Robert Andrich's best goals and passes
The case for the defence
One thing for certain is that the captain's armband is being passed from Gündoğan to Joshua Kimmich, who will continue in a right-back role. Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterback are the most likely first-choice central-defensive pairing in the long term and the duo duly started together in the 5-0 win over Hungary.
At left-back, both Stuttgart's Maximilian Mittelstädt and Leipzig's David Raum - who hit more crosses than any other player in the Bundesliga in 2023/24 - are excellent candidates, with the latter currently in possession of the role.
The pointy end
The attacking magic of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala seem essential ingredients in any possible Germany first XI, although the centre-forward role is an uncertain, albeit fluid, point.
With Kai Havertz in rich goalscoring form, the former Leverkusen man seemed most likely to get the job. Should a classic number nine be called for, Niclas Füllkrug will be ready for a starting berth. As shown against Hungary, though - where Havertz started behind Füllkrug and both men scored - Nagelsmann clearly sees that it doesn't have to be one or the other; it can also be both.
Watch: Musiala vs Wirtz: A duel of midfield magicians
Work in progress
The same applies for the seemingly more settled positions - with the 2024/25 Bundesliga season now in full swing along with Europe's other major leagues, there is a lot of football ahead in which talents can force their way into Nagelsman's first XI.
Stuttgart midfielder Angelo Stiller, who made his debut in Germany's victory against Hungary, is one such player who will battle over the coming months to make an impression on the Germany coach, with club-mate Chris Führich and new Dortmund signing Maximilian Beier two attackers with hopes of building on strong 2023/24 seasons to push for inclusion.
Watch: The best of Angelo Stiller
Forging a team
Even if they don't start, Führich, Beier and Stuttgart's Deniz Undav provide additional attacking options from the bench in the absence of Thomas Müller, who has also called time on his long and distinguished international career. Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Tim Kleindienst has also played himself into contention in the latter part of 2024.
Naturally, the impact the players make in a Germany shirt will also have a huge bearing on Nagelsmann's thinking. He will no doubt want to use further UEFA Nations League ties to try out all his options and establish a favoured bunch for when qualification for the 2026 World Cup starts in March 2025.
The coach has called on all his charges to pull their weight in return, saying: "We want to get a certain core group in place looking ahead to the World Cup, and we don't want to change the entire squad."
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