Could Lennart Karl start for Germany at the World Cup? | OneFootball

Coming off a breakout campaign with Bayern Munich, could potentially play a key role for Germany at the World Cup after being named in Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Karl made his first two senior international appearances back in March, impressing off the bench against both Switzerland and Ghana.

With Serge Gnabry sidelined by a long-term injury, one attacking spot is up for grabs at the World Cup – and the 18-year-old is among the candidates to fill it.

At a press conference on Thursday, Nagelsmann made it clear that Karl has impressed him and said the youngster can influence his own playing time with his performances in the build-up to the tournament.

“We will discuss whether he starts or not with him,” Nagelsmann told reporters.

“A lot depends on how he presents himself and performs in the coming weeks.

“The start was exceptionally good. He made a very quick, lasting impression and didn’t need much time.

“He has great strengths both when playing centrally and on the wing. When he plays centrally, he has shorter routes to goal. He can play both positions very well. Depending on the game situation, he can be used effectively in both roles.”

Karl in contention after training experiment

With Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala and Kai Havertz all considered certain starters, there is only one remaining attacking spot in the starting XI at the World Cup if Nagelsmann sticks with his usual 4-2-3-1 formation.

One option would be to deploy Leon Goretzka in a more advanced role, while another would be to opt for a winger such as Karl, Jamie Leweling or Leroy Sané.

Interestingly, Nagelsmann has tested Karl in a front three alongside Wirtz and Musiala in training ahead of Germany’s warm-up friendly against Finland on Sunday.

With Havertz unavailable for that match due to his involvement in the Champions League final with Arsenal on Saturday, Karl now has a strong chance of making his first start for Germany against Finland.

Germany have one more warm-up friendly after that, against the United States next Saturday. If Karl seizes his opportunity in the coming weeks, he has a real chance of starting when the World Cup begins.