News: 2026 World Cup Thread — Hope, Hype & Heartbreak™

Damn shame if Karl is out, El Mala is the obvious choice as a replacement but fingers crossed he can still make it even if he misses one or two matches.

 

What a bad news. He was close to be a starter in his first WC. Hopefully it is nothing serious and he can still play part in 2nd round.

 

Sky Germany says Karl has a torn muscle and will miss the World Cup. Also, apparently Ouédraogo is getting called up as his replacement.

 

Really unfortunate. Ouedraogo, El Mala, Bischof - lots of talents as backup option
It’s like 2014 Reus injury

 

So the RW is likely to be either Sane or Leweling.

 

In 2010 it was Ballack, 2002 and 2006 it was Deisler. I know of any for 2018 and 2022, maybe someone else can find them.

It seems Germany is cursed.

 

I don't get it at all, with Karl injured and Nagelsmann calling Ouedraogo. We need someone on wings to stretch the play with speed, agility and dribble. With Karl out, we only have Musiala, Sane, Leweling. Sane washed up, Leweling solid but not world class. We cannot rely on Musiala play 90 mins full not to mention there are 2 wings left and right ......

With Karl out, Nagelsmann should call likes of El Mala / Adeyemi, someone who has speed and bring faster dimension to the play.

Now instead of replacing like to like, we have Ouedraogo who can play CAM where Wirtz, Amiri and even Havertz can play at that position. Ouedraogo can also play CM which even worse, already stacked with players.

 

Maxi Beier is also there to play on the wings.
Ouedraogo is a more reasonable replacement than Mustafi though

 

Completely unrelated how Mustafi being called up to replace Reus with what happens now.

 

Catastrophic news. Karl had the potential to be one of the stars of the Tournament!
Only consolation is he has alot of World Cups ahead of him!

Ouedraogo selection tells me Musiala going wide Right and potentially Goretzka coming in the playing 11 if Havertz is to play as the CF!
Not ideal to be honest.

 

Catastrophic news . Every tournament we have to miss 1 or 2 stars. From Deisler in 2002 and 2006 to Ballack 2010 to Reus, Gündogan, and Gomez 2014 to Wirtz and Werner 2022 and now Gnabry, Karl and Stegen missing WC 26.
Karl was our starter as rw. Unfortunately we don't have many options in that position except Leweling and Sane. Quedraogo should have been included in the 26 ahead of groß, goretzka and Amiri. I think Nagelsmann selected Quedraogo now to operate as nb 10 ahead of nmecha and pavlovic beside wirtz and Musiala. After Karl's injury we should go with Wirtz Havertz Musiala under Woltemade or Undav. Our offensive replacements should be leweling/Sane,Undav/woltemade/Quedraogo, and Beier ( not bad but not world class either) . We could struggle without much wingers ( wish someone like groß or amiri or goretzka get injured to see El Mala or Schade or Adeyemi in )

 

What's a tradwife 9? I'm afraid you're spending too much time in the US Politics forum.

 

I agree on that but this would leave us with only one bench striker( Woltemade or Undav). I think Nagelsmann will start with Havertz as striker. Tonight's formation would be the one starting against Curacau ( except Neuer )