National team
One and a half rejections for Nagelsmann – Hummel’s back holds up
Eintracht Frankfurt’s goalkeeper Kevin Trapp (l) and Mats Hummels from Borussia Dortmund arrive at the team hotel. photo
© Arne Dedert/dpa
Julian Nagelsmann has to reschedule slightly. On Monday another national player canceled and another was injured. Another newcomer benefits.
Wrote in fashionable blue jacket Mats Hummels signed a few autographs for the few fans who held out in the rain in Frankfurt – and had good news for the national coach.
The 34-year-old veteran from Borussia Dortmund said in passing that his back might keep him busy for “two or three days.” That could be enough for Julian Nagelsmann’s important mood test on Saturday in the full Berlin Olympic Stadium against Turkey. BVB teammate Felix Nmecha (23), however, canceled completely, Stuttgart’s Chris Führich (25) at least for the time being.
Nagelsmann immediately nominated newcomer Grischa Prömel from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim to replace the injured Nmecha. Führich, who did not travel to Frankfurt/Main to the team hotel near the Senckenberg Museum because of “an emerging infection,” should come as soon as possible. Three days after the game against Turkey, the DFB selection will play against neighboring Austria in Vienna.
Supposed EM axis stands
“There are two tests that we want to use and that are all about emotionality. That will certainly be good,” Nagelsmann said when nominating his original 27-player squad on Friday. Robin Gosens (29/Union Berlin) on the same day and Malick Thiaw (22/AC Milan) on Sunday canceled because they are each expecting offspring. Nmecha had to miss the game at short notice due to “slight problems in the hip area,” as the DFB announced. Nagelsmann nominated David Raum from RB Leipzig for Gosens.
Nagelsmann does not (yet) have to do without players from his supposed European Championship axis. Under the former Bayern coach, Hummels is considered a candidate for a regular place in central defense alongside Real professional Antonio Rüdiger. On Saturday he was substituted in the 28th minute during BVB’s game at VfB Stuttgart (1:2) because of his back. Leon Goretzka, who was missing from the Bayern squad at the Bundesliga weekend due to muscle problems, also arrived injured – but seems to be getting fit.
The national players know that almost exactly seven months before the home European Championship, every training session can count. It’s supposed to start on the DFB campus this Tuesday. “Towards March there will be fewer players, then the group will become a little more concentrated,” said Nagelsmann. “That’s why we decided to also have players with us at the risk that one or the other might not play a game at all. We don’t want that, but that can happen.”
A total of five new additions
Prömel (28) is the fifth professional in the current squad who has never been in the A team played.
However, the midfielder has a successful DFB CV. In 2016, the former junior national player was one of the silver medalists at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He was already in the sights of the national team. However, a broken ankle almost exactly a year ago stopped him for a long time.
“I’m just incredibly proud and endlessly grateful to be able to be there for the first time. It’s an absolute honor for me, because what could be greater than being able to represent your country? It’s definitely a dream come true for me,” said Prömel.