BERLIN, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann has announced his 25-man squad for the upcoming October FIFA World Cup qualifiers, with Eintracht Frankfurt's Nathaniel Brown earning a first senior call-up on Thursday.
The 22-year-old left-back, who played a key role in Germany's run to the U21 European Championship final last summer, has made a rapid rise at club level since joining Frankfurt. Eligible also for the United States through his father, Brown has now committed his future to the German national team. "He is a young talent with huge potential," said Nagelsmann of the defender's inclusion.
Germany's selection also features several notable returns. Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck is back after injury, alongside Jonathan Burkardt, Ridle Baku, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Felix Nmecha. In attack, Nagelsmann has opted for Burkardt, Maximilian Beier and Nick Woltemade, leaving no room for West Ham striker Niclas Fullkrug. "We need flexibility and energy up front, and this group provides that," the coach explained.
The announcement comes at a decisive moment for the four-time world champions. Following a shock 2-0 defeat to Slovakia in September, Germany sit third in Group A with only one victory from two games. With just four nations in the pool, only the group winners qualify directly for next summer's World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The second-placed side faces the play-offs, a scenario Nagelsmann is determined to avoid.
Germany gathers in Herzogenaurach on Monday before facing Luxembourg at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on October 10. Three days later, they travel to Belfast to meet Northern Ireland at Windsor Park. Their final qualifiers in November, away to Luxembourg and at home against Slovakia, could prove decisive. "Two wins, that is our clear goal for October," Nagelsmann emphasized.
Germany squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Finn Dahmen (Augsburg), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Robert Andrich (Leverkusen), Waldemar Anton (Dortmund), Ridle Baku (Leipzig), Nathaniel Brown (Frankfurt), Robin Koch (Frankfurt), David Raum (Leipzig), Nico Schlotterbeck (Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Karim Adeyemi (Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (captain, Bayern Munich), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Felix Nmecha (Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Dortmund), Jonathan Burkardt (Frankfurt), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United). ■
