Julian Nagelsmann apparently sends goalkeeper Nübel home

Media reports
Surprise in the DFB team: Nagelsmann apparently sends Alexander Nübel home

The decision seems to have been made: According to consistent media reports, national coach Julian Nagelsmann has dropped goalkeeper Alexander Nübel from VfB Stuttgart from the squad for the upcoming European Championship. The personnel decision will be officially announced after the last test match against Greece in Mönchengladbach this evening (live on RTL from 8:45 p.m.).

It comes as a surprise that Nübel is the one to be chosen. When the provisional squad was announced in mid-May, Nagelsmann announced that he wanted to start the home tournament with four goalkeepers. But the national coach has apparently changed his mind. It is possible that other candidates for elimination have attracted so much attention in recent training sessions and in the friendly against Ukraine last Monday that Nagelsmann has changed his mind. For example, attacker Maximilian Beier from TSG Hoffenheim, who was considered a candidate, made a strong impression in his 30-minute appearance against Ukraine.

Here’s what else you need to know about the last friendly:

How does Julian Nagelsmann want to approach the European Championship dress rehearsal?

One piece of wisdom does not apply to the national coach. The “law” that a dress rehearsal must fail for later success is “abrogated,” Nagelsmann made clear. In other words: A courageous performance and a win are needed against Greece. The European Championship atmosphere should be revved up. The 0:0 draw against Ukraine on Monday was not good enough. “The last test match is simply very important for our self-confidence. We want a spirit of optimism, we want to take our fans with us,” said defense chief Antonio Rüdiger.

Are there any more personnel experiments?

“I have a starting eleven in mind,” said Nagelsmann – and meant the one for the Greece game as well as the opening game of the European Championship on June 14 against Scotland. Part of the role distribution established since March is that these eleven places are also fixed. There is no reason to change that now of all times. Leroy Sané is supposed to prove that he can be an option for the European Championship after his painful pubic bone problem, but initially as a joker.

The probable eleven is: Neuer – Kimmich, RuedigerTah, Mittelstädt – Andrich, Kroos – Musiala, Gündogan, Wirtz – Havertz

What exactly is the situation with Sané?

The speedy attacker from FC Bayern has only been able to train with the DFB team twice. Since arriving in Blankenhain almost two weeks ago, it has been a case of measured practice and a lot of regeneration. His last game for Munich was the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid (1:2) around a month ago. Nagelsmann will not drop the 28-year-old if the test against the Greeks does not go completely wrong. But one thing is also certain: Sané cannot be a regular at the European Championships – more of a super joker for that special tournament moment.

What happens after the Greece test?

All the players will have one last free time. They will be allowed to travel home from Mönchengladbach. Toni Kroos and co. are expected back at the team headquarters in Herzogenaurach on Sunday evening. Preparations for the Scotland duel will continue there on Monday, with a public training session in front of 4,000 fans in the afternoon. On Thursday, the DFB entourage will move to Munich, and then it will be just one more sleep before the European Championship begins in the FC Bayern arena.

Sources: “Sky sports“, “Picture“

tis / Arne Richter and Klaus Bergmann
DPA