Overview

• The coach confirmed Oliver Baumann in goal, shifted Joshua Kimmich back to right back, brought Nico Schlotterbeck into central defense, and starts Nick Woltemade up front.
• Germany seeks a convincing result in Sinsheim with goal difference pivotal in a tight race with Slovakia, which uses goal differential before head-to-head as the first tiebreaker.
• Thomas Müller was officially announced as a MagentaTV analyst for the 2026 World Cup and, speaking to the network, urged a strong response from the team in the October window.
• Julian Nagelsmann said he remains in contact with Manuel Neuer and did not rule out a future return, though Baumann starts tonight with Marc-André ter Stegen still working back to form.
• Public criticism of the coach’s long-term deal and tactical choices persists, while all three nominal strikers in this squad are yet to score for the senior national team.