World Cup place at risk: German star eyes double comeback | OneFootball

"We are not really getting into gear. But we won't have anything to do with relegation," Robin Gosens is confident that it will turn out well in the end – just like it did back then with Union Berlin. His statement from the podcast 'Copa TS' with Tommi Schmitt, however, refers to his new club, AC Fiorentina.

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With the Italians, Gosens is in a situation he knows all too well from Köpenick. Despite high investments, the traditional club finds itself in the middle of a relegation battle. Another parallel to the 2023/24 season at Union Berlin.

Things were supposed to turn out quite differently. Fiorentina is celebrating its 100th anniversary this season and wanted to use the jubilee to make a sporting push. Before the season, the Serie A club strengthened its squad once again to put pressure on the top teams from Milan, Naples, and Turin.

Gosens, who was permanently signed after a loan for nearly seven million euros (source: 'transfermarkt.de'), was part of a transfer offensive of around 90 million euros. This included notable new signings like Nicolò Fagioli and Roberto Piccoli. The latter scored ten goals for Cagliari Calcio last season and moved to Florence for 25 million euros. So far, however, he has only scored one goal.

Memories are awakened of the 2023/24 season when Union Berlin signed, among others, Kevin Volland, Leonardo Bonucci, and also Gosens. Back then, an ambitious transfer policy was supposed to take the next step. But after the 11th matchday and a 0:4 defeat against Bayer Leverkusen, Union veteran Urs Fischer had to go. At that time, the Köpenickers were at the bottom of the table. 

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It was similar at Fiorentina. Coach Stefano Pioli had to leave even one matchday earlier this season, and the table position was the same at that time: last place, even without a single victory.

In one aspect, however, the two seasons differ. While Gosens missed only four Bundesliga matches throughout the entire season at Union, he was forced to watch from the sidelines for a longer period in Florence. Due to a thigh strain, the left-back missed seven Serie A games and couldn't help his team.

Since the end of December, Gosens has been fit again and promptly made his comeback. In the 2:2 draw against Lazio, he scored, followed shortly by another draw against second-placed AC Milan. Since then, Fiorentina's form curve has been on the rise.

It's no wonder, then, that Gosens believes in staying up. "The path is the right one, even though we gave away two wins. We have been unbeaten for three games, and that shows that the team is aware of it," he said after the 1:1 against Füllkrug's Milan on 'DAZN'. His team concedes goals too often in the final stages: "We need to learn quickly to climb up the table," the German national player set the course.

If Fiorentina is still stuck in the relegation battle until the last matchday, it could be tight for Gosens with a comeback in the German national team. Just like in 2024, when Julian Nagelsmann did not nominate him for the home European Championship. Now an even bigger tournament is on the horizon this year: the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The defender is already 31, so it could be his last chance for a World Cup ticket.

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The competition in his position is, however, fierce. Recently, Nagelsmann relied on David Raum (RB Leipzig) and Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt). Maximilian Mittelstädt, who is having a strong season with VfB Stuttgart, is also considered an alternative. Nevertheless, Gosens does not give up on his dream. "This goal is obviously there. On a personal level, it would be the greatest for me. As long as the coach doesn't signal to me that I no longer play a role, the dream of the World Cup remains alive for me," he said in an interview with the Swiss 'Blick'.

His last conversation with the national coach took place in the summer: "But that's fine for me. I'm not a player who needs an exchange every day." His previous career with the German national team has been a "rollercoaster." That's why Gosens also knows "how to fight back."

Gosens faces two challenges in the next six months: fighting for survival with Fiorentina and personally for the World Cup ticket. If things go well in the league, his dream could come true. Otherwise, a déjà vu threatens – he already knows how it feels not to be nominated.

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

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