Following a triumphant debut against the USA, national coach Julian Nagelsmann is planning to field a fresh starting eleven against Mexico. While the 36-year-old didn’t delve into specifics before his second game, he did hint at his intention to opt for a different lineup. This aligns with his previously stated strategy of assessing a wide range of players in preparation for the 2024 European Championship, hosted in their home country.
Julian Nagelsmann will change his starting eleven in his second international match as national soccer coach despite his successful debut. The new boss made the announcement ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Mexico (from 2:00 in the live ticker) in Philadelphia – without yet going into detail.
It is likely that Nagelsmann will also rely on Marc-Andre ter Stegen in goal at Lincoln Financial Field and a back four in front of him. There are likely to be changes there, however, because Nagelsmann has announced that he will spare one or the other Dortmund player because of Friday’s Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen.
Italy legionnaire Malick Thiaw could take Mats Hummels’ place in the center of defense alongside Antonio Rüdiger. David Raum should get a chance on the left, and Niklas Süle, who was substituted against the USA (3:1), on the right.
In midfield, captain Ilkay Gündogan harmonized perfectly with Pascal Groß against the Americans, but Leon Goretzka could still replace the Brighton and Hove Albion pro.
DFB TEAM: GORETZKA IN STARTING ELEVEN
In addition to the in-form Leroy Sané, a deployment of Kai Havertz and Julian Brandt in the offensive front three seems possible. The only top player would be Thomas Müller.
The probable team lineups:
Mexico: Ochoa/US Salernitana (38 years/147 caps) – Gallardo/CF Monterrey (29/94), Vasquez/CFC Genoa (24/17), Montes/UD Almeria (26/40), Alvarez/CF America (24/15) – Romo/CF Monterrey (28/39), Alvarez/West Ham United (25/72), Chavez/Dynamo Moscow (27/25) – Lozano/PSV Eindhoven (28/65), Gimenez/Feyenoord Rotterdam (22/21), Huerta/UNAM Pumas (22/3). – Coach: Lozano
Germany Lineup:
Goalkeeper: ter Stegen/FC Barcelona (31 appearances out of 37)
Defense: Süle/Borussia Dortmund (28 out of 48), Thiaw/AC Milan (22 out of 2), Rüdiger/Real Madrid (30 out of 63), Raum/RB Leipzig (25 out of 18)
Midfield: Goretzka/Bayern Munich (28 out of 54), Gündogan/FC Barcelona (32 out of 70)
Forward: Sane/Bayern Munich (27 out of 56), Havertz/FC Arsenal (24 out of 40), Brandt/Borussia Dortmund (27 out of 45)
Striker: Müller/Bayern Munich (34 out of 124)
Coach: Nagelsmann
