Nagelsmann changes squad ahead of Curaçao match after…

Nagelsmann changes squad ahead of Curaçao match after Karl's injury setback

11.06.2026 06:02 HotInfo

Germany's national football team is continuing its preparations for the World Cup after a 2:1 victory over the USA in Chicago, and ahead of Sunday's opening match against Curaçao, the players were given time to rest. After intense days of training, coach Julian Nagelsmann opted to prioritize the players' recovery and free time. Spiegel.de ↗

The original preparations were disrupted by an injury to Lennart Karl, who had to leave the team. Karl had been considered the likely first choice for the right wing, so Nagelsmann had to change his plans. In the last test match against the USA, he was replaced in the starting lineup by Leroy Sané, who scored the winning goal after a hesitant start. This gave Germany its ninth consecutive victory. Spiegel.de ↗

Following Karl's absence, there was also a change to the squad. Nagelsmann additionally called up Assan Ouédraogo from Leipzig, who joined the team in Winston-Salem and made a relaxed impression at the press conference. Also part of the preparations is the specific situation surrounding goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, for whom an unusual lineup with one extra player was created for the official team photo. Tagesspiegel ↗

Another ongoing topic is the goalkeeper question. Manuel Neuer, after health issues, took part in full team training in front of around 3,000 fans, while Thomas Müller criticized the communication surrounding the decision between Neuer and Oliver Baumann. Captain Joshua Kimmich also emphasized ahead of the tournament's start that every player must want the title. For Nagelsmann, the final stretch of preparations thus remains a combination of recovery, addressing Karl's absence, and finalizing the lineup. n-tv ↗

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