Julian Nagelsmann will look to the likes of Nick Woltemade and Florian Wirtz to fire Germany past France in Sunday’s 2024/25 UEFA Nations League third-place match in Stuttgart (kick-off: 3pm CEST).
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With Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Tim Kleindienst sidelined through injury, Woltemade made his Germany debut in Wednesday’s semi-final against Portugal, playing 70 minutes before he was replaced by Niclas Füllkrug in his country’s 2-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Nagelsmann had announced Woltemade – who hit 17 club goals in 2024/25 – would then team up with the U21 squad for the impending U21 EURO in Slovakia, but the forward will now remain with the senior side for the game. Following the semi-final loss, Nagelsmann could make changes to his starting XI with another VfB Stuttgart forward, Deniz Undav, a potential starter, having watched his last four international games from the bench. “When Julian Nagelsman brought me on in France, I thought to myself, ‘I’ve made it,'” said Undav, who made his senior international debut in Germany’s 2-0 win in a friendly in Lyon in March 2024. “The atmosphere in Stuttgart for international games is the best; Stuttgart has the best fans.” Bayer Leverkusen talisman Wirtz should retain his place, while Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi is another proven option after a lively substitute outing on Wednesday.
France also comes into the game on a low after their 5-4 loss to Spain in what was the highest-scoring Nations League game of all time. It was the first time Les Bleus had conceded five goals in a game since a 5-0 loss to England in 1969, and coach Didier Deschamps may draft in former Bayern Munich men Lucas Hernández and Benjamin Pavard, as well as Barcelona’s Jules Koundé, to reinforce his backline. Following an impressive cameo appearance that included an assist and a stunning goal, Rayan Cherki could join Bayern’s Michael Olise in the starting XI, with former Borussia Dortmund man and recent UEFA Champions League winner with Paris Saint-Germain Ousmane Dembélé having limped out of the semi-final with a thigh injury. Former Eintracht Frankfurt forward Randal Kolo Muani and ex-Gladbach man Marcus Thuram- fresh off a run to the Champions League final with Inter Milan – are among the attacking alternatives at Deschamps’ disposal.
Watch: The best of Nick Woltemade
Match stats
- Germany was unbeaten in eight Nations League games before the Portugal loss.
- Wirtz has scored, assisted, or both in five of his last seven Germany appearances.
- Nagelsmann’s overall record as Germany coach reads W12 D6 L4.
- Joshua Kimmich earned his 100th cap against Portugal, becoming the 14th German international to reach the landmark.
- Germany has won their last two encounters – both friendlies – with France but had gone winless in six before that.
- Bundesliga Rookie of the Season Olise is one of nine players in the French squad to have featured in the Bundesliga.
Probable teams
Germany: Ter Stegen, Anton, Tah, Koch, Kimmich (c), Pavlović, Goretzka, Mittelstädt, Sané, Woltemade, Wirtz
Rest of squad: Baumann, Nübel, Groß, Undav, Kehrer, Raum, Andrich, Bischof
, Füllkrug, Gnabry, Adeyemi, F. Nmecha
Out: Amiri (adductor), Bisseck (leg), Burkardt (heel), Havertz (hamstring), Henrichs (Achilles), Kleindienst (knee), Musiala (hamstring), Rüdiger (knee), Schlotterbeck (knee), Stiller (ankle)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann
France: Maignan – Koundé, Konaté, L. Hernández, T. Hernandez – Rabiot, Koné – Olise, Cherki, Doué – Mbappé (c)
Rest of squad: Samba, Gusto, Barcola, Pavard, Digne, Badé, Guendouzi, Tchouaméni, Thuram, Zaïre-Emery, Chevalier, Kalulu, Lenglet
Doubtful: Dembélé (thigh)
Out: Upamecano (knee), Camavinga (adductor), Kanté (not selected)
Coach: Didier Deschamps
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