Another one bites the dust.
After a hard fought EURO 2024, İlkay Gündoğan has just announced his retirement from international football. With Kroos and Gündoğan’s departures, it leaves a massive gap in Germany’s midfield. It is likely that Germany will be going with a full new central midfield at the 2026 World Cup.
So who will fill that gap? The obvious choice at the moment is Aleksandar Pavlović coming in as a defensive midfielder. After that, it is an interesting choice. Does Kimmich move back to midfield? Does Goretzka get called up?
Robert Andrich, of course, is the one member of the central midfield that hasn’t retired from international football. At 29-years-old, does it make sense to keep playing him over upcoming talents? Perhaps not.
There are even more factors. Could Beier or Adeyemi take the winger positions moving Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz centrally? Lastly, another X-factor could be Assan Ouédrago. If the 18-year-old breaks out this year at RB Leipzig, there is plenty of time enough for the former Schalke product to earn a starting position on the national team.
Jack’s Best XI for the German national team — as of today
Formation 4-2-3-1
- Striker: Kai Havertz (Chelsea FC)
- Attack: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) – Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund) – Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Central Midfield: Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich) – Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich)
- Backline: David Raum (RB Leipzig) – Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) – Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) – Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
- Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich)
Jack’s Projected Best XI for the German national team for World Cup 2026:
Formation 4-2-3-1
- Striker: Kai Havertz (Chelsea FC)
- Attack: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich) – Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund) – Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Central Midfield: Aleksandar Pavlović (Bayern Munich) – Assan Ouédraogo (RB Leipzig)
- Backline: David Raum (RB Leipzig) – Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund) – Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid) – Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich)
- Goalkeeper: Marc-André ter Stegen (FC Barcelona)
Honorable Mentions: Luca Netz (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Paul Wanner (Heidenheim), Noah Darvich (FC Barcelona), Max Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund)
What are your thoughts on Germany’s midfield for the upcoming Nations League fixtures? Let us know in the comments!
Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s upcoming start to the Bundesliga season, the club’s treatment of Kingsley Coman and Leon Goretzka, plus some thoughts on why Paul Wanner’s development at Heidenheim will be a story you should follow this season? Great, then check out the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:
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