Why Nagelsmann opted not to use goalkeeper Nübel.
Prior to the game versus Greece, it's apparent Alexander Nübel won't be part of Germany's final Euro squad. Minutes before the match, coach Julian Nagelsmann discussed the absence of the goalkeeper and explained the factors influencing his decision.
National coach Julian Nagelsmann justified Nübel's elimination from the Euro 2020 roster due to Leroy Sané's persistent thigh injury. "We needed to make some adjustments," said Nagelsmann before the friendly game in Mönchengladbach.
With Sané's injury, "there are some doubts," said the coach. "We're not sure if we need to make any changes. Leroy is currently 100% fit, but the same happened at Bayern, and it changed again," Nagelsmann clarified. Hence, he chose to "add an additional outfield player for the Euros instead of a fourth goalkeeper, as initially planned."
Nagelsmann's squad and his potential EM team remained the same. Nübel's omission wasn't linked to his performance. According to the coach, the Stuttgart keeper "has adapted well and displayed excellent training guidance." Nagelsmann promised Nübel he'd be considered for the national team "as long as I'm in office."
Nagelsmann won't be without a fourth goalkeeper at the Euros. He will include a young goalkeeper for training purposes, he said. He declined to divulge the player's name at present: "Now's not the time."
Former international Lothar Matthäus finds it difficult to comprehend the choice to omit Nübel from the Euro squad. Stuttgart's goalkeeper is "going to take over from a Manuel Neuer or Marc-André ter Stegen in the future," said Matthäus. "That's why I would have taken him without question."
Read also:
- Despite his impressive performance and training guidance at VfB Stuttgart, Alexander Nübel was not included in Julian Nagelsmann's European Championships 2024 squad due to the team's strategic plans.
- In an interview before the European Football Championship 2024 preparations, Nagelsmann mentioned that he might bring another outfield player, instead of a fourth goalkeeper, as initially planned, due to the uncertain situation with Leroy Sané.
- Although the DFB national soccer team's coach, Julian Nagelsmann, praised the progress of Alexander Nübel, he highlighted that he would consider the Stuttgart keeper for future selection as long as he holds his position within the organization.
- With the European Championships approaching, Nagelsmann emphasized that he would recruit a young goalkeeper to join the national team's training sessions, without revealing the prospective player's name yet.
