Cutting players is never an easy job, especially in a World Cup year, but former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann knows that it is all part of his duty as manager of the German national team.
Not every conversation is the bad news (cutting players) or the good news (making the squad), though, as some information being relayed falls into a gray area, especially as it pertains for Hoffenheim goalkeeper Oliver Baumann.
According to Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk (via @iMiaSanMia), Nagelsmann
has already called Baumann to tell him that Bayern Munich Manuel Neuer is returning to the German national team and will be the No. 1 goalkeeper. After taking on that role when Neuer retired, the 35-year-old Baumann likely has to deal with the disappointment of knowing this was one chance to lead Germany on to the pitch:
Julian Nagelsmann has called Oliver Baumann and informed him that he’s planning with Manuel Neuer as #1 at the World Cup. Baumann assured the coach that he would remain available to the national team even if Neuer were called up.
One of the players who received worse news and will not be on the team in North America is Bayer Leverkusen midfielder / defender Robert Andrich per RTL (as captured by @iMiaSanMia):
Robert Andrich will not be called up for the World Cup. He has already been informed by Julian Nagelsmann.
Able to man the defensive midfield and center-back positions, Andrich is a leader on the pitch, a hard worker, and a good presence to have on a squad, but that was not enough to earn a position on the roster.
Surely, more details on Germany’s final World Cup will flow in the coming hours.
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
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