Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has named a 26-man squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League Final Four, with young talents Nick Woltemade and Tom Bischof earning surprise call-ups. The four-time world champions will face Portugal in the semi-final on June 4 at the Allianz Arena in Munich, with the goal of securing their first major trophy since the 2014 World Cup.
Woltemade, a standout forward for VfB Stuttgart and preparing for this week’s German Cup final, and Bischof, a recent Bayern Munich signing and rising midfield star, have been handed their first senior national team selections. Their inclusion comes amid several key absences, including Arsenal attacker Kai Havertz—who recently returned from hamstring surgery—as well as Jamal Musiala, Antonio Rüdiger, Tim Kleindienst, and Nico Schlotterbeck, all sidelined with injuries.
Nagelsmann, who has emphasized a mix of youth and experience, also recalled fit-again Florian Wirtz, along with Waldemar Anton, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Niclas Füllkrug to bolster the squad. With Germany set to host the final should they progress, expectations are high.
“Nick is a good option in attack, especially with Kleindienst unavailable,” said Nagelsmann in an interview with the German Football Association (DFB). “If we reach our top level, then we can beat Portugal. That is our goal. We will do everything possible to reach the final. We want to play the final in Munich.”
Germany’s last World Cup triumph came in 2014, but they have since suffered disappointing group-stage exits in the 2018 and 2022 editions. With the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico on the horizon, the Nations League represents both a test and an opportunity for this rejuvenated side to find their rhythm under Nagelsmann.
The squad announcement also marks another key step in Nagelsmann’s tenure. Since taking over in September 2023, he led Germany to the quarter-finals of UEFA Euro 2024 on home soil and was rewarded with a contract extension through 2028.
Germany begin their World Cup qualification campaign in September with an away fixture against Slovakia in Bratislava. But first, all eyes are on Munich, as Die Mannschaft looks to reassert itself among Europe’s elite.
