Competition to be fierce for Julian Nagelsmann’s World Cup attacking group

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Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann addresses a press conference in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on March 19, 2026, where he announced the Germany squad for the upcoming set of friendlies ahead of the World Cup 2026 this summer. (Photo by Hannes P. Albert / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images

According to a report from Sky Germany journalists Florian Plettenberg, Kerry Hau, and Patrick Berger (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), there will be some serious competition for attacking roles on Germany’s World Cup roster.

As of now, though, Nick Woltemade and Kai Havertz appear to be shoo-ins for a selection:

Nick Woltemade and Kai Havertz are guaranteed to be on the plane to the US if they’re fit. Nagelsmann recently spoke to Woltemade on the phone and expressed his full confidence in him despite the rough patch he’s going through at Newcastle. Havertz is another player Nagelsmann particularly appreciates. He can play both as a striker and as a number 10, giving the attack flexibility.

Is Nagelsmann planning on a starting attacking quartet of Woltemade, Havertz, Florian Wirtz, and Jamal Musiala?

One player who needs to take advantage of any minutes he gets during this break is versatile VfB Stuttgart attacker Deniz Undav, who can also play as a No. 9 or No. 10:

Deniz Undav is enjoying the best season of his career. However, he still needs to prove himself to be in the World Cup squad. His role under Nagelsmann is less clear than at Stuttgart, as the national team’s style of play differs from Stuttgart’s.

While all of that versatility is nice, Nagelsmann still wants to include a traditional target man-type striker on the squad as well:

Nagelsmann is also planning to call up either Niclas Füllkrug or Tim Kleindienst. The coach wants a classic target man who is strong in the air in the squad, which can be particularly important in the final stages of a match. Füllkrug’s advantage is his experience in major tournaments. Kleindienst is sidelined after knee surgery, but still has World Cup hopes. Nagelsmann recently spoke to both strikers.

One wildcard in this scenario is what happens with Musiala if he is not fit — or in form — to play at the World Cup. Germany’s attack will have potential either way, but the next few months will play a key role in nailing down exactly who makes the final cut.

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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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