Germany plays in Slovakia at the start of the World Cup qualification. Julian Nagelsmann makes changes. At the center of his plan is Joshua Kimmich. A special task is waiting for the captain. Kimmich has special memories of the opponent.
The German national soccer team trained in Herzogenaurach on Wednesday morning, then traveled to Bratislava. Here she competes on Thursday (8:45 p.m., ARD) at the start of the World Cup qualification against Slovakia. Germany won the last meeting so far in the round of 16 2016 in the round of 16. Today’s national team captain Joshua Kimmich came to his debut for the German A selection before the tournament in the test in the 1: 3 against Slovakia in Augsburg.
Wednesday evening after the arrival in Bratislava, national coach Julian Nagelsmann and Kimmich gave a press conference in the stadium. “It rained heavily. We got two goals for corners, I got a kicker grade 5.5,” said Kimmich with a wink about the memories of his debut. It should go much better on Thursday evening.
With goalkeeper Finn Dahmen from FC Augsburg, defender Namdi Collins by Eintracht Frankfurt and attacker Paul Nebel from 1st FSV Mainz 05, Nagelsmann has three newcomers with him. For the 38-year-old coach it is the 24th international game, Nagelsmann comes to twelve victories, six draws and five defeats. So far he has used 18 debutants.
Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg-these are the opponents of the Germans in their qualification group. Not the category that the team should have for problems. The direct qualification as a group winner is firmly planned. But philosophy and system work under Nagelsmann.
Before the first training session this week last Tuesday, the national coach Kimmich won for a conversation not far from the middle circle on the exercise area in the team quarters in Herzogenaurach. Last, important things were discussed with Leon Goretzka and Angelo Stiller. That looked like a new central heart chamber for the national team.
Kai Havertz from FC Arsenal is injured
Nagelsmann has announced tactical changes. Kimmich unchanged “the best right -back”, the national coach recently made clear. But now there would be necessary adjustments. The Italians (2: 1/3: 3), the Portuguese (1: 2) and the French (0: 2) were too simple in the KO games of the Nations League through the German center goals last March and June.
The first decision is Kimmich’s return to the defensive midfield center. “Julian knows that if he needs me as a right -back, I will play on the right. If he wants me in midfield, then in midfield. That is his decision,” said Kimmich recently. “I play where he tells me.” On Wednesday evening, FC Bayern star also said: “I am pleased that I play in midfield. The position is different. I have the feeling that I can bring my strengths a little better in midfield. You are a little more involved. The input for teammates can be larger because the distances to the teammates are a little lower.”
At the start of the World Cup qualification in the Nation Stadium of Bratislava, Nagelsmann lacks several injured top players such as Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Nico Schlotterbeck and goalkeeper Marc-André Ter Stegen.
The national coach hopes and still expects the team to develop during qualifications. “Rhythm is important,” said Nagelsmann. “We want to stabilize ourselves as a group.” It is about the self -image. The games in the Nations League were analyzed in detail. “We have a lot of ball winnings, but we want to get more chances even more,” said Nagelsmann. In addition, it is about “allowing a tick less chances of the opponent.” The most important thing is to win the games and qualify.
Nagelsmann did not want to reveal whether Germany will play against Slovakia against Slovakia in defense with a triple or four chain. “Slovakia plays good and interesting football,” said the national coach. “When analyzing the team, I saw a team that bravely defended. I found the games interesting to look at.”
Florian Wirtz from FC Liverpool is one of the most important players for his team. The fact that you need some time at the new club is quite normal, said Nagelsmann in relation to the first games of the offensive star in England. Wirtz, who moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool, will score and prepare goals in the future. He could like to start in the national team on Thursday evening, says Nagelsmann.
The national coach has given the goal of the World Cup title. According to a representative survey by Sky, just ten percent of Germans believe that Germany achieves this goal. 1200 people were interviewed. “The numbers tell me that we still have to do persuasion,” said Nagelsmann. It is important to formulate a goal.
His captain Kimmich said about the start of the qualification phase: “It is new for us again that we have to qualify.” At the European Championship in Germany, his team was automatically qualified as the host of the tournament. In the final round of the Nations League, she did not bring the necessary mentality and attitude, said Kimmich self -critically. The hunger and greed were not got on the pitch in the semi -finals against Portugal. “This becomes important in the qualification to show this in every game of qualification,” said the professional. It will also be important to be convinced of your own quality.
Coaching in a jersey like Lukas Kwasniok?
The Mission World Cup 2026 begins for Germany with the game in Bratislava. With the first of six qualifications this year. In the jersey, like his coaching colleague Lukas Kwasniok from 1. FC Köln, he will probably not coach, Nagelsmann made it clear with a wink when asked by a corresponding reporter question. “If the team says that it is totally emotional and find it great, then I put on a jersey tomorrow. Then we just have to speak to our supplier. I’m not so vain, our jerseys are nice,” said the coach.
He looked over at Kimmich, who was sitting next to him on a podium. “Let’s think,” said Kimmich grinning.
Julien Wolff is a sports editor. He reports for the world For many years from Munich about FC Bayern and the national team as well as about fitness topics and will be in Bratislava in the stadium.
