Völler hails Nagelsmann’s first squad as Germany hits US

 

BERLIN – Germany team director Rudi Völler is impressed with new coach Julian Nagelsmann’s first squad and has defended the upcoming US trip. Germany will play the United States in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday and Mexico in Philadelphia the following Tuesday. 

Veteran defender Mats Hummels has been recalled while Kevin Behrens, Robert Andrich and Chris Führich received first call-ups.

“If a player performs well, he deserves to be invited back,” Völler told Bild TV on Sunday when asked about the return of Borussia Dortmund’s Hummels, while labelling the squad as a whole “good.”

Bundesliga coaches have lambasted the long US trip to play friendlies and the tight turnaround for the next set of league fixtures.

Germany host Euro 2024 but Völler is looking further ahead and says the experience will help prepare for the 2026 World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico, should Germany qualify.

“We’re not doing it in March when the Bundesliga and Europe are getting down to the wire,” Völler said, although he did criticize the Bundesliga for scheduling Dortmund’s clash with Werder Bremen on the Friday after the Mexico game, which kicks off Wednesday morning German time.

“That was certainly a wrong decision,” he said.