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

A like to like replacement for Karl would be El Mala but I guess Nagelsmann must have change his plan.

I am eager to see what the coach has in mind, opting AMC over speedy winger! Maybe he wants to
have more possession approach but yes whichever line up start agains the US will start against Curacao except injury.

 

It's strange to me that Havertz is always brought up as an option to play as a striker up front again. This was identified to be the one problem during Euro 2024, but wasn't fixed because Gündogan was still occupying the #10 spot and couldn't be dropped because he was the captain.

After the tournament, he stepped down and Germany played with Wirtz, Havertz and Musiala behind a striker (Füllkrug, then Undav, then Kleindienst), looking their best since the 2010-2016 era, and - after the games against the Netherlands, the 5-0 vs Hungary, the 7-0 against Bosnia and thereby qualifying for the Nations League final four - everyone thinking the team was finally back on track for good.

This lasted until the games vs Italy in March 2025, when Nagelsmann was forced to tinker with the ideal formation again due to injuries (Havertz was out, Kleindienst was out for a whole year after the Italy games, Füllkrug was injured and/or warming the bench at West Ham; Wirtz and especially Musiala took turns in being injured; Goretzka returned etc). Then came the final four games against Portugal and France, where Germany didn't look great, but were also basically playing with a B team due to all the injuries. However, Nagelsmann apparently panicked and lost the plot, seemingly forgetting about what had already worked well and going back to tinkering with the fundamentals for almost every game that followed.

Now, after over a year, everyone is available again (i.e. Wirtz, Musiala, Havertz and two different strikers in Undav and Woltemade), so I don't see why this wouldn't be the ideal formation and why Havertz is supposed to be used as striker again. It's like a problem was identified, solved, the solution worked beautifully, but had to be abandoned temporarily due to circumstances, and afterwards the solution was somehow forgotten and we're back to a point where the problem hasn't been identified and solved yet.

I could have potentially seen Nagelsmann playing Havertz up front just to fit in all of the most talented footballers in Wirtz, Musiala, Karl and Havertz, but with Karl out, nothing really speaks against going back to the formation that worked best, playing Havertz in his best position behind a striker, while also putting an end to whole the "Undav deserves to play, but Nagelsmann won't give him a chance" debate.

But we'll see; you never know with Nagelsmann. Plus, from what I've read, Undav also still carries a knock from the Finland game and might only be available for a limited time against the US.

 

It seems like the obvious choice, with both of them being the most talked about talents of the season and both playing on the wings, but the crucial difference is that Karl primarily plays on the right (or center), while El Mala plays on the left. Also, based on Nagelsmann's explanation on why he didn't include El Mala in the first place, he apparently thinks that El Mala is better suited for a team that defends and counters a lot and therefore sees him as a polar opposite to Karl in that regard.

However, I'm also not quite sure how Ouédraogo is supposed to be a like for like replacement. Either Nagelsmann just wanted another flexible option for the offensive midfield line, not particularly a winger, or Ouédraogo was simply next in line as the first replacement for whichever attacking player gets injured. I don't mind him being included though, as I think the ideal solution would have been to include all of Karl, El Mala, Ouédraogo and Bischof over Sané, Amiri, Goretzka and Groß anyway.

 

The only option to be direct replacement for Karl would have been Gruda but though he is a big talent with great potential he did not show he deserves to be in the first team yet. He still needs to work harder and be more consistent with more productivity.

 

Tresoldi would also have been a good option after Karl's injury if Havertz will play as AM( especially that Nagelsmann praised him and said he was close to make the 26 players squad) we would still have 3 strikers competing for 1 position.

 

Sane starting for Karl. The rest lineup is the same like last match.

 

Germany looks tired.

 

Haha, Sané used his 23rd last chance and will now be a lock for the entire tournament.

 

I’m back again…

Here to hope Germany plays a good WC, though the game today leaves a lot to be desired

I don’t want Kimmich to experience THREE group stage exits in the WC

 

Expecting Germany to make it past the QFs is a pipe dream.

 

Heading into the WC with 9 consecutive wins and without injuries is what matters. Germany looked great when they increased the pace but players were not putting all their effort to avoid injuries. Sane is the weakest player despite scoring he ruined many chances. Hopefully he doesn't start against Curacau.

 

Havertz this year after injury has improved alot in physically and tactically. He’s in good form, being false 9 doesn’t mean you’re not effective. Looking at Paris they won UCL without real 9 as well.

As much as I like clinical finish from Undav, I still think Havertz is more useful in holding up and make space for others.

Sane despite his goal, he still the same Sane who committed turn over cannot play with his right foot. But there’s no better alternative. I guess loosing 18 years old Lennart Karl really weaken our team.

 

I think Ouedraogo is going to fulfill the loss of quality left by Karl. Musiala can’t play full time every match and there was a big drop in quality in the pitch after he and Wirtz were subbed off together. Ouedraogo is in the mold of Wirtz and Musiala and I expect him to be a sub for one of these 2 guys from the very beginning of the World Cup. He will be a joker off the bench.

Only one of Sane, Lewling and Beier will be in the starting lineup and together I think they would put a decent shift

 

I can't see why the fixation with Sane. The Guy is so erratic and has a shocking low level of IQ

Just hope once the world cup starts hes not in the starting line up!

 

If you have the time, watch the Gegenpressing bundesliga podcast youtube video. I thought it was a pretty good analysis of the German team.