Carefree Lennart Karl dreams of World Cup after first call-up
Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16, Second Leg soccer match between Bayern Munich and Atalanta Bergamo at the Allianz Arena. Tom Weller/dpa Lennart Karl wants to take the carefree attitude that led to his Bayern Munich breakthrough into the German national team but also has a clear aim. "I am not putting any pressure on myself.
I play my kind of football. And then I hope that it works out that I will be at the World Cup," Karl said after Bayern's 4-0 Bundesliga win over Union Berlin. Karl, 18, was a starter on Saturday and hit the post, two days after getting his first call-up by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann for World Cup tune-ups in Switzerland on Friday and against Ghana three days later.
He has scored eight goals and added five assists in his first Bayern season. Nagelsmann avoided the hype when he did not nominate him in November for World Cup qualifiers but now has high hopes in him. Nagelsmann wants carefree play "He should bring his youthful carefree spirit onto the pitch.
He should play football freely, from the heart, and without any pressure," Nagelsmann said when he announced the squad. "He has his World Cup dream and should show what he shows at Bayern – creating plenty of danger in front of goal. " With the two games being the last before Nagelsmann has to select his squad for the June 11-July 19 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, Karl will all but certainly get playing time.
Kompany pleased Bayern coach Vincent Kompany welcomed the first call-up for Karl, and for their goalkeeper Jonas Urbig, saying "it is good for Bayern and good for Germany. "These are two young players who will play a major role in the national team in the future. This is the first step for them; they should enjoy it.