Return of the national players: Goretzka & Co. after tournament defeats!

Return of the national players: Goretzka & Co. after tournament defeats!

The German national team shone at the UEFA Nations League Final Four in Germany, but failed to live up to expectations and suffered two defeats. Portugal secured the title, revealing weaknesses in the German team that must be addressed by the 2026 World Cup. The tournament event took place from June 4th to 8th, 2025 and required the participating nations, including Germany, to register a squad of 23 to 26 players by May 28th, 2025. Julian Nagelsmann, the coach of the German team, was able to draw on a comprehensive player base, but there were several injuries during the tournament.

After the end of the Nations League, the national players quickly traveled back to their clubs as the Club World Cup in the USA was already approaching. Among the players who returned to Dortmund on a private plane were Karim Adeyemi, Lukas Nmecha and Leon Goretzka. The latter, from the Ruhr area, plans to spend his few days off with family after being criticized for his performance during the tournament.

Preparations for the Club World Cup

The Club World Cup is very important for Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich, not least because of the high prize money that is awarded. While FC Bayern plays its first game against Auckland City on Sunday, Borussia Dortmund still has some time to recover as the team doesn't travel to the USA until Friday. Jobe Bellingham could also travel to the Club World Cup as there has been progress in negotiations.

Injuries and roster changes

During the Nations League there were several absences due to injuries, which limited the coaches' options. Angelo Stiller, Nadiem Amiri, Yann Aurel Bisseck and Jonathan Burkardt had to retire early, with Burkardt moving up to the final squad as a replacement for Stiller. Ousmane Dembélé and other important players from other nations also had to leave the squad early due to injuries, which made the respective coaches' preparations more difficult.

The pressure on Julian Nagelsmann will increase because the national team must quickly work on their performance in order to be competitive in the upcoming 2026 World Cup. The next important date for the clubs will be the Club World Cup and both teams have set their sights high.

For more details about the players and squads of the nations during the tournament you can view the full information Wikipedia see. The home fans hope that the players from Dortmund and Munich can learn from the experiences of the Nations League in order to do more successfully in the upcoming World Cup.

For more insight into player returns and the latest sports news, visit calf.