German national team head coach Julian Nagelsmann has nominated his squad for the upcoming crucial World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg (Nov. 14) and Slovakia (Nov.17). And there was one major surprise: Saïd El Mala.
The 19-year-old was nominated after just 11 games with Köln’s first team this season. But after scoring four goals and assisting on two in just nine Bundesliga games, the nomination seems justified.
“We have an eye on our talents in the U21 squad and, in coordination with coach Toni Di Salvo, want to give a few of them the chance to present themselves for the senior team,” Nagelsmann said. “Saïd El Mala will be given the freedom to show his carefreeness and ease at the senior team.”
The teenager was ecstatic about his nomination. “I am very happy to be nominated for the senior national team,” El Mala said. “It is a great reward for all the hard work I put in, and I am proud to represent my club, Köln, in the national team jersey.”
Although El Mala doesn’t always start for Köln, his impact in the Bundesliga this season has been incredible. An argument, in fact, could be made that the winger is one of the best young German talents in the German first division.
It could also be argued that El Mala’s style of play is exactly what Germany needs against Luxembourg and Slovakia. The winger is extremely direct, fantastic in one-on-one situations, and can play with incredible power, which is especially important against teams with tight defensive formations.
On top of El Mala, two players have returned to the squad. Leroy Sané, who has been excellent for Galatasaray in the Champions League, was nominated after not being part of the team in October.
“I was always in contact with him and he has earned his call-up with fantastic performances in the Champions League and Süper Lig,” Nagelsmann said. The winger had a slow start to his career in Türkiye, but played really well on Wednesday against Ajax, adding an assist to the 3-0 victory.
Another player who is back on the site after a summer transfer is center-back Malick Thiaw. The 24-year-old joined Newcastle United for €35 million ($40.3m) in August and has been one of the club’s best players.
Indeed, Transfermarkt recently named Thiaw the club’s best summer transfer, ahead of fellow national team player Nick Woltemade. “Thiaw is a regular starter in the Premier League and has become a crucial player for his team after his transfer,” Nagelsmann said.
Adding an informed Thiaw is also what Germany needed. The lack of attacking creativity aside, Die Nationalmannschaft has also struggled defensively, and with Antonio Rüdiger showing signs of age, Thiaw will be a welcome alternative.
There is another message in this squad as well. By adding El Mala and bringing back Thiaw and Sané, Nagelsmann highlights that the squad for the 2026 World Cup, for which Germany still needs to qualify, is far from set.
That’s an important message, especially as Germany will need two wins to secure their participation in the United States next summer. Getting that job done is paramount for a football nation whose national team is still looking for stability.
Germany squad:
Goalkeepers: Noah Atubolu (Freiburg), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nuebel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Ridle Baku (RB Leipzig), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle/ENG)
Midfielders/forwards: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Jonathan Burkardt (Eintracht Frankfurt), Said El Mala (Cologne), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray/TUR), Kevin Schade (Brentford/ENG), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool/ENG), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle/ENG)