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Germany's head coach Julian Nagelsmann addresses a press conference on May 27, 2026 in Herzogenaurach, southern Germany, ahead of their pre-World Cup friendly match against Finland. (Photo by Daniel Karmann / AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
This is one of those things that make no sense, no matter which way you cut it. Germany announced a World Cup squad full of defenders, but only a single right-back, team captain Joshua Kimmich. This is despite the fact that Kimmich spent the entirety of last season playing in midfield for Bayern Munich.
Asked about the lack of options at right-back, Julian Nagelsmann struggled to provide an adequate answer.
“We have several options; it depends on the game or the situation in the group,” he told reporters (via @iMiaSanMia). “There are more attacking and more defensive options.”
“There isn’t a classic backup, but that’s a conscious choice we made. If something happens to Joshua, it won’t be the end of the world. We already have ideas, but they are varied.”
This is not an easy pill to swallow, since no other player on the roster has any real experience playing the position. The fact that Kimmich himself is a part-timer means that Germany named a World Cup squad without a single natural right-back, and they did it on purpose. If this gamble works out, it could be a masterstroke.
And if it doesn’t, well…
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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