The final countdown?
Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka has become one of the most polarizing footballers in Germany for a number of reasons.
When it comes down to his place on the national team, the 30-year-old has been the odd-man out under Julian Nagelsmann, who has preferred to go with other options like Bayern Munich’s Aleksandar Pavlović, Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich.
The problem is that Pavlović is battling a prolonged illness — and, truthfully, has not been the same since breaking his collarbone — while Andrich often does not play for Die Werkself, and Nmecha is out with a ligament injury.
When factoring in that attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz is injured and Joshua Kimmich might need to be used as a right-back, there could be a window for Goretzka to make his return to the German national team — if he is not blacklisted.
Goretzka has been very solid with Bayern Munich since Vincent Kompany started calling his number more and might actually be outperforming many of the midfielders that have been recently called up by Nagelsmann.
All that said, Goretzka is not counting on anything.
“I’ve not been in touch with Julian Nagelsmann. I’ve played every game for my country with pride and hope there are more to come. If Julian calls, I’ll answer and talk to him,” Goretzka said (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).
This will be a very interesting set of call-ups for Nagelsmann. If not now for Goretzka, then probably never.
