In a move reflecting his ongoing strategy of injecting new blood into the squad, coach Julian Nagelsmann announced German national team roster , which included some pleasant surprises for fans with the first-time call-ups of two young players. The squad features Bayern Munich's promising duo: 18-year-old playmaker Lennart Carl and 22-year-old goalkeeper Jonas Ørbig. This call-up comes in preparation for two important friendly matches for the German national team later this month.
Signs of renewal in the German national team's roster and its future impact
This move is part of a historical context for the German national team, as the German Football Association, under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann, seeks to rebuild a strong team capable of fiercely competing on the international stage, especially after the challenges faced by "Die Mannschaft" in recent major tournaments. The integration of young talent with experienced players is of paramount importance domestically, sending a motivational message to all academy players in Germany that the doors of the national team are open to promising talents. Karl-Heinz Rumberg and Karl-Heinz Oberberg are the only new faces in the 26-man squad selected to face Switzerland in Basel on the 27th of this month, followed by a tough match against Ghana three days later in Stuttgart.
A remarkable performance from Karl and a promising future for Orbig
Young Lennart Karl, a product of Bayern Munich's academy, has firmly established himself in the Bavarian giants' starting lineup this season. He has made 34 appearances, starting 21 of them, and has scored eight crucial goals. His latest contribution came last Wednesday when he helped Bayern secure a resounding 4-1 victory over Atalanta in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, advancing with a 10-2 aggregate score. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Jonas Ørbig represents a long-term investment, as he will officially join Bayern Munich in January 2025 to serve as the strategic backup for the legendary Manuel Neuer, who will turn 40 at the end of March and whose contract expires on June 30th.
The return of stars and the challenges of impactful injuries
On another note, fans received positive news with the return of forward Kai Havertz to action with his English club Arsenal since the beginning of this month after a long absence due to injury, paving the way for his return to the national team. However, the team will be without the services of young star Jamal Musiala, who returned to Bayern Munich in January after suffering a serious injury (a fracture of his left fibula and a dislocated ankle) during the match against Paris Saint-Germain in July 2025. He experienced a recurrence of pain in the same ankle last week and is currently undergoing intensive treatment in Munich to be ready for the crucial matches with his club between April and May.
Preparing for the world's biggest event
These friendly matches are of paramount international importance, serving as the most crucial preparatory stage before the World Cup. Nagelsmann confirmed in an interview with the German magazine "Kicker" on March 1st that the current squad for these two friendlies will be very close to the final roster that will travel to North America for the World Cup finals (between June 11th and July 19th). The official announcement of the final squad is expected in the second week of May, as Germany aims to add a fifth star to its footballing history.
The squad called up for the upcoming matches
The following are details of the names that were summoned:
- Goalkeepers (3 players): Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Nübel (Stuttgart), Jonas Orbig (Bayern Munich).
- Defense (12 players): Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Waldemar Anton and Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Braun (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Wagenmann (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Anton Stach (Leeds United), and Malick Thiaw (Newcastle United).
- Midfield and attack (11 players): Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka and Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Jimmy Lowling and Deniz Ondav (Stuttgart), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Kevin Schade (Brentford), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), and Nick Foltmeade (Newcastle).
