Germany national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann announced Bayern Munich star Leon Goretzka will be his preferred midfield option for the upcoming World Cup.
Despite falling out of Bayern Munich's pecking order this season, Leon Goretzka is still expected to start for Germany ahead of in-form teammate Aleksandar Pavlovic and Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha, Nagelsmann told Kicker.
When being asked about the midfield pivot for the tournament in the USA, the former Bayern and RB Leipzig head coach says:
"We need a slightly different profile for the more attacking role, but one of them definitely has a good chance of playing. Pavlo is incredibly consistent, almost always playing at the same level. Pavlo always plays the same game. That sounds negative, but it's meant very positively."Nagelsmann
Nagelsmann insisted that Nmecha struggles for consistency, which rules him out as a starting midfielder for Germany. The 38-year-old head coach said Goretzka’s box-to-box playstyle suits the tactical preference he has been implementing since the Qualifiers.
The former RB Leipzig coach insisted that Goretzka's constant penetration into the opposition's penalty area could complement the attacks, and his aerial ability could support the defence against long balls when Germany presses higher up the pitch. Goretzka has done a decent job for Germany whenever he has been given opportunities by Vincent Kompany.
The former Schalke midfielder has featured in all of Germany’s six qualifying games, four of which he played the full 90 minutes, and had one assist. Nagelsmann praised his contribution in the crucial wins against Northern Ireland.
Joshua Kimmich will play in the right-back position
Meanwhile, Joshua Kimmich will continue to play in the right-back position for Germany despite consistent performances in the midfield at the club level. Bayern’s vice-captain was the stand-out player in the Der Klassiker, providing numerous key passes and scoring the game-winning goal.
However, with the huge drop-off in quality on the flanks, Nagelsmann is forced to play his best deep-lying playmaker as a right back.
Nagelsmann also spoke out about Lennart Karl, who is eyeing his first Germany senior team call-up ahead of the World Cup. The former Bayern coach insisted that Karl is certainly an exciting player to watch and can cause problems for defenders with his dribbling.
However, he also acknowledged Karl’s dip in form during the second half of the season. Nagelsmann doesn't expect Karl to play regularly until the end of the season to make a case for a place in Germany's World Cup squad. Considering his impact at Bayern this season, Lothar Matthaus had urged Nagelsmann to pick Karl in the World Cup squad. His dribbling can be a lethal weapon for the German national team whenever he comes off the bench. Unless something extraordinary happens. Karl will have to wait for his opportunity with the national team