by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has laid down a hard line ahead of the team's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, insisting that only players with regular club minutes will be considered for selection.
"The ones who don't play are out," German media summarized of the 38-year-old's stance, as the 2014 world champions prepare to face Slovakia, Northern Ireland and Luxembourg in their qualification group.
The former Leipzig and Bayern Munich coach voiced unease over the summer transfer activity of several players, warning that moves to bigger clubs could limit playing time and, in turn, harm the national team.
"I wasn't happy about several of the transfers some players made this summer," he said. "The most pressing issue is to play in the club."
Nagelsmann underlined the point by highlighting Spain's 18-year-old talent Lamine Yamal. "How often did he play in the recent season? One hundred percent, I guess. Well, that's the key," he said.
He pointed to both emerging prospects and established names, mentioning Aleksandr Pavlovic, Tom Bischof (Bayern), Jonathan Burkardt (Frankfurt) and Leroy Sane (Galatasaray).
Pavlovic featured in only about a third of Bayern's matches last season, while Bischof, after moving from Hoffenheim, is expected to see his minutes reduced sharply in Munich.
"That's not enough," Nagelsmann said, noting Bischof's drop from nearly 100 percent playing time at Hoffenheim to an estimated 15 percent at Bayern. "Where is the benefit for the national team?"
Nagelsmann also revealed discussions with striker Nick Woltemade, whose proposed move from Stuttgart to Bayern fell through after the clubs failed to reach agreement.
"I told him he would have to make sure he plays. Otherwise, the World Cup participation is at stake," Nagelsmann said, adding that he was "not totally unhappy" the transfer collapsed, as Woltemade remains a guaranteed starter at Stuttgart.
The coach emphasized that the same performance standard applies to all players. Poor club form, he said, will result in exclusion from the squad.
He singled out Sane, who joined Galatasaray this summer. Nagelsmann recommended the winger "gain ground" in Turkey. "I expect a more dominant performance in the Turkish league," he said.
Burkardt and Stuttgart's Deniz Undav are among those currently omitted due to unimpressive club form.
Nagelsmann demanded a commanding qualification campaign and vowed to keep pressure high on players vying for World Cup spots. Competition is expected to intensify once injured stars Jamal Musiala, Tim Kleindienst, Kai Havertz and Marc-Andre ter Stegen return. ■
