Julian Nagelsmann has finalised his selection from VfB Stuttgart, confirming three players will travel to the 2026 World Cup in North America. Deniz Undav, Jamie Leweling, and Angelo Stiller have all received the green light from the German national team coach, marking a significant decision for the Bundesliga club's contingent.
Stiller's Redemption After Early Doubts
The inclusion of Stiller represents a notable turnaround. During World Cup qualifying matches, the midfielder started only once—in Germany's opening 2-0 defeat to Slovakia—and was dropped from the final two fixtures. He joined the March training camp merely as a replacement for injured players Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlovic. Nagelsmann previously stated in mid-March that Stiller was "up against Pavlo, who I currently rate a notch higher" and questioned whether he belonged in the starting eleven for "certain specific aspects."
However, Stiller's performances against Switzerland and Ghana changed the narrative entirely. The midfielder earned explicit praise from Nagelsmann during those friendlies, and his displays have now convinced the coach of his World Cup readiness. This reversal underscores how recent form can reshape selection decisions at international level, even after months of uncertainty.
Stuttgart Casualties: Mittelstädt and Führich Miss Out
Two other Stuttgart players face disappointment. Maximilian Mittelstädt, who featured at Euro 2024, loses out to David Raum as the primary left-back option. Despite reclaiming his place in Stuttgart's domestic squad, Mittelstädt was excluded from the last three national training camps. Nathaniel Brown of Eintracht Frankfurt will serve as Raum's backup instead.
Chris Führich had seemingly earned a late reprieve through explosive form. The winger contributed four goals and four assists in the Bundesliga since February, and earned his first cap in 18 months against Ghana. Pundit Dietmar Hamann argued Führich "has to go to the World Cup" given his exceptional form. Yet Nagelsmann has ultimately decided against his inclusion, reversing his March decision to draft the Stuttgart attacker into the squad.
These selections highlight the unpredictable nature of squad planning, where tactical flexibility and recent performances carry significant weight. Stuttgart faces an unusual scenario with multiple players occupying the periphery of Germany's World Cup plans heading into 2026.
