SPORT NEWS: MAN CITY’S ORTEGA RECEIVES FIRST GERMANY CALL-UP
Stefan Ortega, the custodian for Manchester City, was called up to Germany for the first time when coach Julian Nagelsmann announced his Nations League team on Thursday.
The 32-year-old was included in the 23-man roster along with goalkeepers Oliver Baumann of Hoffenheim and Alexander Nuebel of Stuttgart.
Marc-Andre Ter Stegen of Barcelona, Germany’s top goalie, is still out due to a significant knee injury.
Felix Nmecha and Julian Brandt, two midfielders for Borussia Dortmund, have also been called up to the team.
While Nmecha earned his lone international cap under former coach Hansi Flick in March 2023, Brandt hasn’t played for Germany since November of last year.
On November 16, Germany hosts Bosnia and Herzegovina in Freiburg. Three days later, they travel to Budapest to play Hungary.
With three victories and a draw so far this season, the Germans have already advanced to the Nations League quarterfinals.
“After reaching the quarter-finals early, we want to win our Nations League group – if possible in front of our fans at the home game in Freiburg,” Nagelsmann said on Thursday.
In addition to Ter Stegen, Nagelsmann is also missing several players due to injury.
West Ham forward Niclas Fuellkrug, Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling, Bayern midfielder Aleksander Pavlovic and winger Leroy Sane, Dortmund defender Waldemar Anton and RB Leipzig’s David Raum are all absent.
“We have a strong squad, even if we have to restructure in some positions due to injuries,” added Nagelsmann.
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart), Manchester City (Manchester City/GER)
Defenders: Robin Gosens (Florentina/ITA), Benjamin Henrichs (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maximilian Mittelstaedt (Stuttgart), Antonio Ruediger (Real Madrid/ESP), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen)
Midfielders: Robert Andrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Chris Fuehrich (Stuttgart), Pascal Gross (Borussia Dortmund), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)
Forwards: Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Kai Havertz (Arsenal/ENG), Tim Kleindienst (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart)