"Deserved his spot: BVB star returns to Germany squad" | OneFootball

National coach Julian Nagelsmann relies on stability and clear messages when selecting the squad for the World Cup qualifiers.

Nico Schlotterbeck is back in the national team. After more than five months of injury break, the Borussia Dortmund central defender has returned in strong form – and is being called up by national coach Julian Nagelsmann for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches.

The 25-year-old had been out since April due to a meniscus injury but recently played twice for over 90 minutes in the Bundesliga. "He was the best man on the pitch in his last international match against Italy and he can gladly be that again now. We are very happy that he is back," Nagelsmann praised on the sidelines of the premiere of a Sky documentary about DFB sports director Rudi Völler. The 38-year-old emphasized that Schlotterbeck "will definitely be there" and that he "has earned it."

The national coach made it clear why he is relying on BVB star Schlotterbeck: "He gives us outstanding playmaking, a great will to win, and finally a left foot at the back again." It is also important that the defender has no more problems and has returned fit.

Nagelsmann brings BVB defender Schlotterbeck back into the DFB team

On Thursday, Nagelsmann will announce his final squad. The German team will face Luxembourg on October 10 in Sinsheim and three days later Northern Ireland in Belfast. After the false start with the 0:2 against Slovakia, the coach expects a significant improvement in performance: "We want to do more and talk less. We had four intense weeks and discussed and considered a lot. It is not super easy."

In the nomination, Nagelsmann mainly wants to rely on stability. "Players integrate better in stable situations. We are in a very unstable situation, so it is not advisable," he explained. Therefore, major surprises in the squad are not to be expected, "one, two, maybe."

The many injuries of key players like Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Antonio Rüdiger, or Marc-André ter Stegen complicate the plan to build a solid axis.

With BVB defender Nico Schlotterbeck, the national team certainly gets an option back that is expected to provide new impulses both in terms of play and character.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.