Said El Mala (left) has been nominated for the German national team. © APA/afp / SASCHA SCHUERMANN

High-flyers and returning players for Nagelsmann

Cologne's rising star Said El Mala is included in the DFB squad for the first time in the final matches of the national football team for the World Cup ticket.

06 November 2025

From: dpa

Alongside the 19-year-old, national coach Julian Nagelsmann nominated returning players Leroy Sané and Malick Thiaw for the two matches on November 14 in Luxembourg and against Slovakia three days later in Leipzig. Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich, Frankfurt center-back Robin Koch, and Dortmund striker Maximilian Beier are no longer part of the 25-man squad.

The young attacking player El Mala has catapulted himself into the spotlight this season at newly promoted Bundesliga side 1. FC Köln with impressive performances and goals. He has previously played for various DFB youth national teams, most recently in October in the European Championship qualifiers for the German U21 team.

Bayern Munich teen Karl still has to wait.

"Said El Mala should show up with all his carefree and lightheartedness," Nagelsmann said regarding the youngster's invitation. The national coach, however, did not yet nominate the 17-year-old Munich attacking talent Lennart Karl, seven months before the World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

The 29-year-old Sané is back in the squad for the first time this World Cup season. "I've been in constant and excellent communication with Leroy. He earned his nomination with strong performances in the Champions League and the Süper Lig," Nagelsmann said of the Galatasaray Istanbul forward. Defender Malick Thiaw of Newcastle United could also make his first appearance for Germany in two years.

Leroy Sané (left) returns to the squad. © APA/afp / JOHN THYS

Nagelsmann will also have to manage without several injured top players in the last international matches of the year, including goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, defender Antonio Rüdiger, and attacking aces Kai Havertz and Jamal Musiala.

The German national team goes into the final two matchdays of Group A as group leaders, ahead of Slovakia, who are level on points. "With two wins, we want to secure World Cup qualification," said the national coach. He will gather his squad, including captain Joshua Kimmich, in Wolfsburg next Monday for preparations.