National team
Matthäus advises Nagelsmann to make debuts
As usual, open-minded: record national player Lothar Matthäus. photo
© Tom Weller/dpa
Lothar Matthäus advises national coach Julian Nagelsmann to use new defensive players and courageous decisions on the offensive. Matthäus believes that an invitation from the DFB would come too early for a young player.
Despite his good performances at FC Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic is for Lothar Matthäus is not yet a candidate for the senior national team.
“He played great recently, you have to acknowledge that, but you shouldn’t turn the boy’s head,” said record national player Matthäus in his “Sky” column. The 19-year-old Pavlovic is not “a candidate for the national team yet,” said Matthäus one day before the international nomination for the upcoming games in France and against the Netherlands.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann has no need for Pavlovic, who has recently been repeatedly linked to the national team. “With returning Toni Kroos, captain Ilkay Gündogan, Leon Goretzka and Pascal Groß, there are enough candidates to play in the six or eight position,” said the record national player.
VfB professional in focus
To achieve this, Nagelsmann should change his defense and nominate not only Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt) again, but also Waldemar Anton from VfB Stuttgart for the first time. “I would definitely invite him because he is also a leader,” said Matthäus about Anton, who, according to media reports, is about to be called up for his debut in the senior national team, just like his teammates Maximilian Mittelstädt and Deniz Undav.
Matthäus can also imagine that there will be debutants on the offensive: “Perhaps the national coach will take a look at Jan-Niklas Beste (FC Heidenheim) and Maximilian Beier (TSG Hoffenheim). Both have recently attracted attention and both have something “What maybe one or the other doesn’t have, such as dangerous standards and speed,” said Matthäus.