Julian Nagelsmann has finalized his 26-man squad for the World Cup this summer. It is a really solid squad but there have been a couple complaints on particular exclusions such as Tom Bischof and Said El Mala. Both are talented players with a lot to provide to the squad, but will not be given the opportunity for now. With the squad now finalized, who could hypothetically provide the biggest addition to this current squad for the legendary 2014 World Cup winning squad?
There are a few different options
here. The rock solid duo of Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng are tempting options that were massively important to the 2014 winning side. Another player that raises the question is Philipp Lahm, however, Joshua Kimmich is not a bad replacement to the former national team captain. Bastian Schweinsteiger is an intriguing veteran from the same squad in the midfield.
Perhaps more X-factor options are Mesut Özil, Toni Kroos, or Thomas Müller. All these players were incredibly important in Germany’s success in that tournament and all provide exceptional talent in at least one key category of goalscoring, passing, or dribbling.
A less popular answer might be André Schürrle or Mario Götze, who were not the biggest names from that squad, but without a doubt, came in clutch at the right moments in the tournament. Without Götze, it is entirely possible Germany falls short to Argentina in the penalty shootout which was approaching quickly.
Last, but certainly not least, is Manuel Neuer, funny enough. Yes, he is in the current squad, but 2026 Neuer is an entirely different option than Neuer in his prime in 2014. Neuer was an absolute beast in this tournament and was perhaps the best player in the world in 2014. He had that game-changing element which could single-handedly propel a team to success with his performances. My personal pick would be Neuer.
Who would be your choice? Let us know your pick and why in the comments!
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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