Overview
- El Mala arrived to his first senior call-up after being substituted at halftime in Köln’s 1–3 derby loss at Mönchengladbach, with coach Lukas Kwasniok saying the 19-year-old “was not good.”
- Sporting director Thomas Kessler defended El Mala’s development, noting the winger’s age and recent run of four goals and two assists this season.
- Nagelsmann said inviting players with limited Bundesliga minutes is “very, very early,” but explained El Mala fits a profile Germany lacks on the flanks and will have a chance to show himself in camp.
- The national team faces World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg on November 14 and Slovakia on November 17, with selection choices expected to reflect both form and positional needs.
- Center-back Malick Thiaw was recalled after establishing himself at Newcastle; reporting in Germany notes that using him in an official qualifier would secure his eligibility for the DFB amid interest from Senegal.