Waldemar Anton has withdrawn from the Germany national team for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures due to muscular issues, as reported by T-Online.
The Borussia Dortmund defender will miss the upcoming matches against Serbia and the Netherlands, prompting national team coach Jürgen Klopp to call up Ridle Baku from RB Leipzig as a replacement.
The German Football Association (DFB) announced on Sunday that the 30-year-old central defender cannot travel to the team due to his physical complaints. Borussia Dortmund confirmed that Anton will remain at the club during the international break.
Under coach Niko Kovač, Anton had established himself as a key performer, not missing a single match for BVB in the current season. While Klopp previously named Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah, and Malick Thiaw for the central defense, he opted to bring in the 28-year-old full-back Baku—who has earned eight international caps to date—rather than another central defender.
Germany faces two crucial encounters in League A, Group 2 of the Nations League. On Friday, November 13, the team plays away against Serbia in Belgrade with kickoff at 20.45. Three days later on Monday, November 16, Germany hosts the Netherlands at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, also starting at 20.45.
After four matches, the DFB selection currently sits in third place in Group 2 with the Netherlands and Greece holding a three-point advantage. Only the top two teams will qualify for the quarterfinals, leaving the DFB-Elf facing the threat of relegation from the top league.
The German squad gathers on Monday, November 9, at DFB partner Adidas in Herzogenaurach to begin preparations for the concluding group fixtures.
Reflecting on the upcoming week, Jürgen Klopp stated: Ich freue mich riesig auf die nächsten beiden Spiele. Wir haben in der Mannschaft einen bunten Mix aus sehr jung und durchaus erfahren dabei. Es war nach dem 44er-Kader im September schwer, diese Auswahl zu treffen, weil, und das ist eigentlich die gute Nachricht, es wieder mehr Spieler verdient hätten, dabei zu sein. Je mehr Qualität man hat, desto schwieriger im positiven Sinne werden die Entscheidungen, die man zu treffen hat.
🚨🔙 Jürgen Klopp has called up full-back Ridle Baku to Germany's squad for Sunday's final UEFA Nations League group matches against Serbia and the Netherlands. Baku replaces Waldemar Anton and brings Congolese heritage, with both of his parents originating from the Democratic… pic.twitter.com/8uphT7ryk6
