Alexander Nübel makes his debut against Bosnia in the Nations League. The national team’s long-time substitute goalkeeper, Bernd Leno, did not want to come for a special reason. That could have consequences, as national coach Julian Nagelsmann explains eloquently.
The German national soccer team landed in Sarajevo on Thursday afternoon. A little later, national coach Julian Nagelsmann asked his team in Zenica, around 70 kilometers from the capital, for final training before the Nations League game against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Friday (8.45 p.m., RTL).
Nagelsmann and goalkeeper Alexander Nübel from VfB Stuttgart then gave a press conference in the Bilino Polje stadium, where the game will also be played. Nübel will play for the senior national team for the first time. “The anticipation is huge,” said Nübel. “This is a huge thing for me.” It is one of the highlights of his career so far that he has achieved this. But of course he plans to play for a few more years, said Nübel with a laugh. Oliver Baumann from TSG Hoffenheim is expected to play in goal in the game against the Netherlands on Monday (8:45 p.m., ZDF).
Nagelsmann said of his expectations of the two goalkeepers: “They shouldn’t do any other things than what they do in the club. We have a footballing approach that Alex and Olli can implement very well.” He doesn’t want or need to increase the pressure on the two of them. Both of them deserved the stakes and could now show what they can do. He doesn’t want to create artificial competition.
Bernd Leno is not on this international trip. The 32-year-old goalkeeper from Fulham FC didn’t want to travel if he wasn’t playing. He had declared this publicly. Nagelsmann said on Thursday evening in Zenica: “I live with his explanation. He made demands in the conversation that I was unable to meet for internal reasons after discussions with the coaching team and also with the goalkeeping coach. That’s why I gave him a very interesting perspective. Which is not in the short term, but in the medium term. But the player wasn’t so happy with that, which is why he has now decided not to come.”
Nagelsmann talks about Klopp
Nagelsmann continued: “Everyone has to know for themselves. He is welcome to do it for himself. He’s not 25 anymore, he has a certain maturity and can evaluate things.” And with regard to Leno’s possible future nominations: “I’m not closing the door. But it didn’t open any further.” Clear words, although the national coach also emphasized: “Sure, if someone plays exceptionally well and the others don’t, the door can open again.”
Nagelsmann also commented on Jürgen Klopp, who will start as the new head of football at Red Bull in January. And at least theoretically he could still become a national coach from 2026. “I also congratulate Jürgen on an outstanding job. It’s a super interesting job that Jürgen will fill with a lot of life with his style.”
Nagelsmann, who was coach of RB Leipzig, said about Klopp’s possible exit clause: “I know Oliver Mintzlaff (Managing Director of Red Bull, editor) very well. I can’t imagine there being a clause in the contract.” And added with a wink: “I’ll ask. Then I’ll think about how I answer that.” Nagelsmann congratulated Mintzlaff at the press conference regarding Klopp’s signing on an “outstanding coup.” It was a win-win situation for both sides. “I was happy. Olli informed me relatively early on.”
Julien Wolff is a football editor. He has been reporting from Munich since 2011 about FC Bayernalso about the Bundesliga and the national team.
