The German national team has hit a rough patch. After a disappointing run in the Nations League Final 4, where they suffered home defeats against Portugal and France, their World Cup qualifying campaign also started on the wrong foot. A 0-2 loss in Slovakia left fans wondering what’s going on. Now, with crucial matches against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland looming, things aren’t getting any easier for coach Julian Nagelsmann.
The week kicked off with a fresh wave of challenges. Starting goalkeeper Oliver Baumann fell ill and missed yesterday’s practice. Striker Woltemade also sat out training yesterday, only linking up with the squad late last night. To add to the woes, forward Leweling arrived injured, putting his participation in doubt. These sudden absences have certainly thrown a wrench into Nagelsmann’s plans for the upcoming fixtures.
Faced with a shrinking roster, the coach had to make some quick decisions. He called up two new players to bolster the team: goalkeeper Noah Atubolu from Freiburg and winger Kevin Schade from Brentford. For Atubolu, this marks his first-ever national team call-up, and he clearly wasn’t expecting it. “After yesterday’s training [Monday], I lay down for a bit,” Atubolu shared. “When I woke up, I had several missed messages on my phone. Then they told me a car was coming to pick me up and I had to go.”
Atubolu expressed his immense pride and eagerness about the opportunity. “It’s a great honor for me to be part of the German national team,” he continued. “My expectation is to absorb everything and learn.” Nagelsmann will be hoping these new additions can bring some fresh energy and depth as Germany tries to turn their fortunes around in these vital qualification matches.