Italyvs.Germany

Nagelsmann is having to cope without a number of players currently sidelined through injury or illness including Florian Wirtz, Kai Havertz, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Niclas Fullkrug, Benjamin Henrichs and Aleksandar Pavlovic.

Meanwhile, the likes of Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Ilkay Gundogan and Toni Kroos have all retired from international football over the last 10 months, so Nagelsmann has freshened up his squad, with eight players returning to the senior setup.

Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka has not represented his country since November 2023, but the midfielder has forced his way back into Nagelsmann's squad following an impressive upturn in form at club level since the turn of the year.

Nadiem Amiri has had to wait even longer for another chance at international level; not since November 2020 has the midfielder played for Germany, but he has returned to the squad this month having played an integral role in helping Mainz 05 climb into the top three of the Bundesliga.

Goretzka, Amiri among eight returnees as Bisseck earns first call-up

Amiri's Mainz teammates Jonathan Burkardt as well as Borussia Dortmund's Karim Adeyemi, RB Leipzig's David Raum and Stuttgart trio Jamie Leweling, Deniz Undav and Angelo Stiller have also returned to the Germany squad.

Meanwhile, 24-year-old defender Yann Aurel Bisseck has been handed his first senior call-up by Germany after impressing for Inter Milan this season, making 29 appearances in all competitions.

Bisseck is one of only two uncapped players in Nagelsmann's squad along with Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, who will battle with Oliver Baumann and Alexander Nubel for the number one jersey.

Notable absentee from Germany's squad include Dortmund trio Emre Can, Julian Brandt and Waldemar Anton, and Stuttgart's Chris Fuhrich, while Nagelsmann has confirmed why it was not possible to select Monaco striker Mika Biereth.

Biereth was born in England but is of Danish-German descent through his father, while he also has a Bosnian mother. However, the 22-year-old - who has scored 10 goals in 11 games since joining Monaco in January - has chosen to represent Denmark at international level.

"I spoke to [Biereth] to see if he could play for us," Nagelsmann said at a press conference on Thursday. "He has a Danish and a British passport, and was 21 years old the last time he represented Denmark (at Under-21 level). Therefore it was not legally possible for him to play for Germany."

Speaking to dfb.de about his 23-man squad, Nagelsmann said: "Although we have to cope with some absences, we generally have a very good squad.

"We chose these players out of conviction and tried to replace the lack of quality with quality. With players who are eager to play.

"The quarter-final against Italy is very important for us. These are two games that we absolutely must and want to play positively."

Germany will lock horns with Italy in the first leg of their Nations League quarter-final at San Siro in Milan on March 20, before welcoming the Azzurri to Dortmund's Westfalenstadion three days later for the second leg.

The winners of this quarter-final showdown will earn the right to host the semi-finals and final of the Nations League, with games to be played at the Allianz Arena and MHP Arena if Germany progress.

Either Germany or Italy will face one of Denmark or Portugal in the semi-finals, while the other last-four tie will be between two of Netherlands, Spain, France and Croatia.

Germany's 23-man Nations League squad in full:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart), Stefan Ortega (Manchester City)

Defenders: Yann Aurel Bisseck (Inter Milan), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstadt (Stuttgart), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz 05), Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart)

Forwards: Jonathan Burkardt (Mainz 05), Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Monchengladbach), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)

Written by

Oliver Thomas