Nübel in goal and workload management for Germany against Ghana
Germany goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel attends a press conference, ahead of Monday's International Friendly soccer match against Ghana. Christian Charisius/dpa Alexander Nübel will be in goal in his Stuttgart home stadium for Germany's World Cup tune-up match against Ghana on Monday but Oliver Baumann remains first choice, coach Julian Nagelsmann has said. Nübel will earn his third cap and VfB Stuttgart team-mate Deniz Undav will also get minutes but it was not clear whether Germany's most successful striker will be a starter or substitute.
Looking at Nübel, Nagelsmann said: "This is not a casting but an award for very good performances over a long period. " Hoffenheim's Baumann is the number one between the posts in the absence of Marc-André ter Stegen who is unlikely to make the World Cup squad. Baumann played in all six qualifiers last autumn and in Friday's 4-3 victory in Switzerland.
Undav did not play in Basel but Nagelsmann has said he plans a few changes to manage the players' workload, which could also affect captain Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich team-mate Serge Gnabry and Arsenal forward Kai Havertz who is back from injury. Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown will start as left back in place of David Raum, but Nagelsmann said Brown won't play the full match. "I'm not completely deluded and I see this through come hell or high water," Nagelsmann said on the workload issue.
The Ghana game is the last before Nagelsmann will announce his World Cup in May 12. Germany play debutants Curacao, Ivory Coast and Ecuador in the group stage of the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. “My hope for us is that we play well, have successful matches, and can look forward to continuing on Monday,” Nagelsmann said.
Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann (R) and goalkeeper Alexander Nuebel attend a press conference, ahead of Monday's International Friendly soccer match against Ghana. Christian Charisius/dpa