GERMANY START NEW ERA WITH CAPTAIN KIMMICH AND GOALKEEPER TER STEGEN
Joshua Kimmich is the new captain and Marc-Andre ter Stegen the new first-choice goalkeeper when the German national team starts a new era on the weekend in the Nations League and with it sights on the 2026 World Cup.
Both were obvious choices to take over from Ilkay Gündogan and Manuel Neuer, respectively, who ended their international careers after Euro 2024 along with Thomas Müller, while Toni Kroos quit football for good.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann said on Monday that Kimmich "always wants to win" and is "proud" to be named captain, while ter Stegen is "the clear number one" between the posts.
Their first game in these functions is Saturday's Nations League opener against Hungary, followed by a trip to the Netherlands three days later.
Kimmich, Rüdiger, Havertz the new official leaders
The Bayern Munich defender and midfielder Kimmich is the most capped player in team, having played 91 games for Germany since a debut in 2016. He was vice-captain at the Euros where Germany went out in the quarter-finals against eventual champions Spain.
Nagelsmann said that Real Madrid defender Antonio Rüdiger (74 caps) and Arsenal forward Kai Havertz (51) are the vice-captains.
"We have found a good mix with the three," Nagelsmann said. "They are responsible for how we present ourselves.
‘For me, the captain is the envoy of the team who represents the team's opinion. We have tried to find players who have a good connection."
TerStegen number one at last
Barcelona's ter Stegen has 40 Germany caps since a 2012 debut and has been outstanding for years at Barcelona and also a solid back-up for Neuer - but never getting past him.
Like Müller and Kroos, Neuer won the 2014 World Cup and retired after 124 caps over 15 years and first choice status at every big tournament since the 2010 World Cup.
The back-up goalkeepers are uncapped Oliver Baumann from Hoffenheim and Alexander Nübel from VfB Stuttgart.
Momentum to continue
The squad gathered on Monday, and Nagelsmann wants to keep the momentum from the Euros into the Nations League, and next year's qualifying for the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
"We have to take this momentum with us. The little plant is delicate, but it has the potential to grow," he said.
"We play games to win them. Of course we know that the Nations League doesn't have a huge effect on the World Cup qualifiers, but it does have an effect on the development of our self-image."
No major changes from Euros
Nagelsmann said that the game plan won't change and with it none of the profiles for the individual positions but that unlike the Euros there will be no core of dedicated starters and dedicated back-ups for each position.
"The roles are more open now, but the profile of the role is the same. We will select the best 11 for each game and bring in the best five for each game. But the profile remains the same," he said.
Kimmich will remain right back and not return to midfield where he usually plays at Bayern, because "he set a benchmark in all aspects" at the Euros, according to Nagelsmann.
Kroos can't be replaced one-to-one
The coach added that it is impossible to adequately replace Kroos in midfield but that the gameplan will more or less the same.
Of the three candidates for the role, he said: "Pascal Gross is one of the players who can and will certainly do that well. Aleks Pavlovic and Angelo Stiller also have similar profiles."
VfB Stuttgart's Stiller is the only new player in the squad but Nagelsmann said that other debutants may follow in October.