National coach Julian Nagelsmann has made three surprise changes to the national football team’s starting lineup for the European Championship round of 16 match against Denmark. In addition to local Dortmund hero Nico Schlotterbeck, who is replacing the suspended Jonathan Tah in defence, David Raum and Leroy Sané are also new to the team.
Defence chief Antonio Rüdiger has recovered in time after his strain in the Switzerland game and can defend alongside Schlotterbeck. Goal scorer Niclas Füllkrug, on the other hand, is also on the bench as a joker in the fourth tournament game. Kai Havertz starts in attack, as he did in the group phase. The Leipzig area starts at left back for Maximilian Mittelstädt. Bayern professional Sané replaces Florian Wirtz in the attack.
“The players who are coming in have earned it through a good week of training,” Nagelsmann said shortly before kick-off on MagentaTV. “They are all decisions for, not against. They are two world-class players. Today we decided on Leroy.” Wirtz and Mittelstädt are “of course” disappointed “that they are not playing from the start,” Nagelsmann said. “Just like Füllkrug. But they took it well.”
The German starting eleven:
Neuer – Kimmich, Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum – Andrich, Kroos – Sané, Gündogan, Musiala – Havertz
Nagelsmann’s reaction, new 3rd paragraph