Captain Kimmich leads the expected DFB starting eleven

The national coach is relying on eleven European Championship players for the start of the Nations League. Groß will take over Kroos’ position against Hungary, Füllkrug will play for Gündogan. And there is a new number one in goal.

Düsseldorf – The German national football team, led by new captain Joshua Kimmich, will play in the first match after the European Championships at home with the expected formation. New Dortmund player Pascal Groß replaced Toni Kroos in midfield for the Nations League opener on Saturday evening in Düsseldorf against Hungary. Robert Andrich will play alongside him.

As announced by national coach Julian Nagelsmann, striker Niclas Füllkrug will take the place of the previous captain Ilkay Gündogan in the offensive. The new number one Marc-André ter Stegen will take the place of DFB record goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who also retired after the home tournament.

“Of course we have lost key players with a lot of experience. (…) It is also a great opportunity for everyone, for the coaching team, but also for the team, to usher in a certain new era. We look back with sadness at what the four of them did so outstandingly. “We are also looking ahead and are optimistic that things will continue to go well,” Nagelsmann said on ZDF.

Since defensive leader Antonio Rüdiger is being rested for the start of the new international season and is not part of the squad, the central defence will be made up of Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and Dortmund’s Nico Schlotterbeck. Along with Füllkrug, the young stars Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz as well as Kai Havertz will be responsible for goals and scoring opportunities.

The German starting eleven: ter Stegen – Kimmich, Tah, Schlotterbeck, Raum – Andrich, Groß – Havertz, Musiala, Wirtz – Füllkrug dpa