Ricken insists: these three BVB stars must go to the World Cup | OneFootball

Shortly before the World Cup squad nomination, Lars Ricken is turning up the pressure on Julian Nagelsmann and calling for the inclusion of three BVB stars.

Shortly before the announcement of Germany’s World Cup squad, Borussia Dortmund sporting director Lars Ricken made a clear case for three BVB players. He sees Felix Nmecha in particular as a guaranteed part of the national team for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

“I think all of us at Borussia Dortmund would be very surprised if Felix didn’t go to the World Cup,” Ricken told BILD. The midfielder had been sidelined for a long time after suffering lateral ligament damage in his knee, but made an impressive return for the end of the season. In the 2-0 win in Bremen, Nmecha played the full 90 minutes and impressed both defensively and in build-up play.

Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann is also considered internally to be a big supporter of the 25-year-old. Most recently, he hinted on the ZDF Sportstudio that Nmecha could even be a candidate for the starting XI alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic. According to BILD, the Dortmund player has already received the go-ahead for the World Cup. Alongside Nmecha, Ricken is also backing Maximilian Beier and Karim Adeyemi. “Both of them also bring strengths that would help any team over the course of an intense tournament,” said the BVB boss.

BVB hoping for a strong Dortmund contingent in the Germany squad

Beier in particular attracted attention last season with strong numbers. Across all competitions, the attacking player recorded 20 goal contributions and also impressed with his versatility in several positions.

Photo: IMAGO

Adeyemi, on the other hand, looks back on a more complicated season. The quick attacker did manage ten goals and six assists, but injuries and off-field distractions repeatedly held him back. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old is still hoping for a World Cup ticket thanks to his pace and one-on-one ability. Nico Schlotterbeck and Waldemar Anton, by contrast, are considered safe picks from Dortmund. While Schlotterbeck is likely firmly planned in at center-back, Anton is valued above all for his versatility and his role within the team.

For Borussia Dortmund, having a larger contingent in the Germany squad would not only matter from a sporting perspective. A successful World Cup campaign could also boost the club’s international profile and the players’ market values.

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