Germany's March 2026 International Break: Player Report Card & World Cup Outlook

Germany has officially concluded its international fixture window for March 2026. In their penultimate unofficial warm-up matches before the impending summer World Cup, Julian Nagelsmann's German national squad secured victories in both friendly encounters. They triumphed with a 3-4 away win against Switzerland in Basel on Friday night, followed by a 2-1 victory over Ghana in Stuttgart on Wednesday.

Following our annual tradition, we present a comprehensive performance review for all German players who saw significant playing time. This assessment covers 20 German footballers, with individual grades provided below, ordered from highest to lowest marks.

Six players earned top-tier (A) ratings, marking them as "winners" from this period, while four German footballers received the lowest (D) grades, categorizing them as "losers" in this analysis. The remaining ten players delivered moderate performances, neither exceptional nor poor.

The "winners" group consists of two Premier League professionals and four from the Bundesliga, with three of the latter hailing from Bayern Munich. Conversely, three-quarters of the players in the "losers" category are from Stuttgart, finding their World Cup aspirations either significantly challenged or potentially over.

---

---

There is absolutely no doubt that Florian Wirtz was the standout performer of this international break. Wirtz delivered an extraordinary display in the opening match against Switzerland. His statistical output (two goals and two assists) barely captures the true mastery of his involvement, as he was directly responsible for all four of Germany’s goals. Wirtz's goals were exquisite, and Serge Gnabry and Jonathan Tah would not have scored without his supremely skillful setups.

Naturally, Wirtz's performance level saw a slight dip in the subsequent game against Ghana, as replicating such a monumental effort is nearly impossible. However, the 22-year-old came remarkably close. Wirtz played with relentless intensity in Stuttgart, almost orchestrating an early goal and hitting the post with a free-kick. He also initiated the move that led to the 1-0 penalty at the close of the first half. Simply put, Wirtz expended immense effort throughout.

Observers of German football who have closely followed Wirtz since his Bayern Leverkusen debut, shortly after his 17th birthday, haven't witnessed him play with such vigor, fluidity, and agility in over a year. These two matches served as a powerful reminder of his generational talent. Liverpool supporters will undoubtedly hope Wirtz can bring this same magic back to Merseyside. Currently, German fans are more excited about Wirtz than any other player.

---

---

Speaking of Premier League players who have sometimes faced scrutiny, Havertz delivered two commendable performances upon his return to the continent. Wirtz’s former Leverkusen teammate, also an early debutant, led Nagelsmann’s 4-2-3-1 formation in the first fixture. Although not a natural leading striker, Havertz performed admirably as a central forward. The 26-year-old effectively operated in the attacking third, consistently finding dangerous positions and demonstrating excellent tactical awareness by dropping back to facilitate passing exchanges.

Havertz registered three strong shots on target in the first game. Surprisingly, he also excelled when positioned on the right wing behind Nick Woltemade in the second match. The Arsenal player produced two decent shots and was denied a clear goal-scoring opportunity by exceptional defending from new Wolfsburg signing Jonas Adjetey within the first five minutes. After showcasing numerous flashes of brilliance in the opening 45 minutes, Havertz was allowed to score his first goal for the German national team in 17 months from the penalty spot.

Havertz exuded confidence, appearing entirely recovered and in rhythm after a lengthy injury layoff. This might partly be attributed to Nagelsmann’s instruction before the second match, encouraging him to give his all before being rested for the second half. Regardless, Kai made a compelling case for himself in two attacking roles ahead of the summer tournament. Ideally, he will build further momentum with his English club in both the Premier League and Champions League.

---

---

Vincent Kompany's frequently lauded "underrated player" continues his resurgence, both as a number 10 and a leader within the German national team. It’s remarkable to consider that, but for Jamal Musiala’s injury in last summer’s Club World Cup, Gnabry might not have secured a lucrative contract extension with Bayern. He certainly wouldn't be Nagelsmann's undisputed starting attacking midfielder. We have always believed Gnabry would thrive in a central supporting role, lamenting how former Bundestrainer Jogi Löw misused him as a center forward.

Gnabry netted a superb technical goal and provided a precise assist in the initial win against Switzerland. He moved expertly throughout his full 90-minute shift, adding an element of unpredictability to both Germany’s offensive pushes and counter-attacks. The former Arsenal player was unlucky not to score again when a powerful shot was blocked by his FCB teammate Jonathan Tah. Unfortunately, he appeared less sharp in the second fixture in his hometown of Stuttgart, missing an excellent chance and miscontrolling the ball on a couple of occasions.

Similar to Havertz, Gnabry was afforded only 45 minutes in front of his local supporters. Perhaps nerves affected him as he tried to impress a larger contingent of family and friends. We tend to be more forgiving than some of the harsher German press outlets. Gnabry deserves recognition ahead of what might be his final major tournament for his country this summer. Despite any inherent bias, we hope to see him make a significant mark in the history books.

---

---

David Raum, known for his dynamic runs and pinpoint crosses, significantly contributed to the first victory. It's true that Wirtz's disruptive presence in the Swiss defense ahead of him created immense space. Two excellent assisted shots, a strong effort of his own, and six quality crosses kept the Nürnberg-native firmly in the spotlight. He also executed crucial defensive tackles, repeatedly rescuing the often-shaky German defense. Amidst his best club season since joining Saxony, the new RB skipper has unequivocally established himself for the national team.

Raum was substituted for Nathaniel Brown's latest opportunity in the second match. While Raum's much younger Eintracht Frankfurt counterpart performed commendably, it's unlikely Brown posed a serious threat to Raum’s starting position. Raum re-entered the game for the final 29 minutes against Ghana, maintaining an energetic and disciplined defensive presence while also contributing with assists on a couple of forward charges. An impressive showing from the 27-year-old across both matches.

---

---

The German press seemed overly critical of Goretzka, who played without his preferred German national team midfield partner Aleksandar Pavlovic in the double-six role. Compounding this, his true partner and "spiritual brother," Joshua Kimmich, was deployed at right-back for Germany, making it unsurprising that Goretzka struggled with defensive tracking and made a few unsettling misplaced passes. Goretzka is fundamentally a pure No. 8. This identity shone through as he recorded an astounding seven shots and four assisted shots across the two matches.

If nothing else, the uninspiring performances of other midfield options (detailed later) likely solidify Goretzka's starting role for Germany. The now 31-year-old is far from finished; his next club will undoubtedly be fortunate to have him, especially given that his attacking game appears sharper than it has been in over two years. He settled well into the second match against Ghana after coming off the bench, nearly setting up Lennart Karl late in the game.

---

---

Yes, Lennart Karl is indeed part of the "A-Level Winners Cohort." However, despite the considerable praise, it's not anticipated that the teenage sensation will make the World Cup squad. In fact, perhaps the only compelling reason for Nagelsmann to consider nominating the 18-year-old is the expectation that he will eventually grow taller, though losing his low center of gravity might negatively impact his dribbling ability. Regardless, Karl showcased his exceptional dribbling with three long carries in the first match and two in the second.

Karl contributed three assisted shots against Switzerland and had three attempts on goal himself against Ghana. The former Aschaffenburg talent is simply ruthless on the right flank. In the first half of the second fixture, Serge Gnabry almost seemed to be imitating his younger club colleague. Karl's energetic play can be infectious. Perhaps he will make the World Cup squad after all. Nagelsmann might consider taking him to the States as a versatile "super joker." Stranger things have certainly happened in football.

---

---

As we transition into the "B-Level" category, this Nürnberg-native is a fitting starting point. Brown performed admirably defensively and distributed his passes with considerable care. The German-American fullback might have been slightly too cautious in his attacking link-up play, with little offensive contribution from the 22-year-old. When he did join attacking movements, Brown consistently opted for ground passes towards the center. As previously noted, he doesn't yet present a genuine alternative to Raum.

---

---

Jonathan Tah delivered fairly solid performances in both his appearances. The 30-year-old's first national team goal (against Switzerland) arguably should have been credited to Gnabry. Defensively, Tah occasionally appeared vulnerable in duels during the first match. However, the Hamburg-native compensated for this against Ghana, winning all four of his ground and aerial challenges. He initiated several effective counter-attacks and was (this time) unlucky not to score himself in the second fixture. His strong showing against Ghana concluded when he was rested for the second half.

---

---

It was certainly good to see Rüdiger back with the German national team, though his limited playing time meant he was almost overlooked, appearing only for the second half against Ghana. The Berlin-native remained largely inconspicuous during the second half in Stuttgart, save for one somewhat memorable tackle. This makes sense in the context of his return from a long injury layoff. It’s possible the 33-year-old could reclaim his starting position if Nico Schlotterbeck's form continues to decline.

---

---

One of Nagelsmann's more intriguing call-ups, Pascal Groß performed well off the bench in the first match, even providing the assist for Florian Wirtz's game-winning goal. He emulated Leon Goretzka sufficiently in his start against Ghana, although the 34-year-old was not nearly as effective offensively as the Bayern player. We were pleasantly surprised by how well the Mannheim-native managed in the double-six role. Frankly, however, the performance bar was relatively low. It's difficult to imagine the veteran midfielder suddenly rediscovering significant pace in the humid American summer heat.

---

---

It seems that, similar to his Bayern "soul mate" Goretzka, Kimmich was unfairly graded by the German press. Kimmich executed an excellent tackle during the first half against Switzerland but was generally unconvincing and ineffective while instinctively drifting centrally. After having some time to adapt to his assigned German national team role against Ghana, Kimmich was notably involved in the early stages of the second game. However, once Nagelsmann shifted him into midfield, he again appeared unsettled.

---

---

There isn't a great deal to say about Alexander Nübel's appearance in the second match. The VfB Stuttgart player had little to do and wasn't truly at fault for the Ghanaian goal. We don't recall any notable saves, and Nübel wasn't particularly adventurous with his passes from the back. Like Kimmich, he gave a respectable post-match interview, which perhaps contributed some extra points to his grade. Kimmich's grade might also have seen a slight inflation for similar reasons.

---

---

Let's address both goalkeepers as we move into the "C-Level" category. Frankly, we don't believe Baumann was culpable for any of the three Swiss goals. Nevertheless, the fact that Germany's presumed No. 1 heading into the World Cup made only one outstanding save doesn't inspire immense confidence. Despite the 33-year-old having earned only 11 senior caps, Germans were fairly optimistic about heading into the tournament with Baumann in goal. Now, anxieties have resurfaced.

---

---

Diving straight into a potentially controversial assessment, it must be emphasized that Sané did set up the game-winning goal against Ghana. Furthermore, his performance in the opening match was far from terrible; the 30-year-old simply struggled to assert himself. Nagelsmann rightly gave Sané another opportunity after his impactful display for the national team back in November. He appeared committed enough against Switzerland. It's possible that a slight dip in form could cost him his starting role, but we found his contributions to be adequate.

---

---

Next, another subject of debate. Nagelsmann correctly noted that, apart from the late winner orchestrated by Sané, Undav made virtually no impact. Nagelsmann reluctantly included the 29-year-old due to his sparkling club form, as it was impossible to deny him a chance. Beyond any perceived "power games" between Nagelsmann and Undav, much of Undav's national team struggles stem from his tactical versatility. While this is a huge strength for Stuttgart, it proves somewhat of a hindrance for Germany. It will certainly be fascinating to observe how Undav’s situation develops.

---

---

Nagelsmann has consistently emphasized that Woltemade was a temporary solution for Germany in the central forward position. There were indeed indications that his tactical role at Newcastle might have impeded his attacking play. The 24-year-old's offensive contributions (in both matches) lacked precision and timing. However, when operating deeper and defending, he made some crucial interventions and blocks. Like his former Stuttgart teammate Undav, Woltemade’s tactical adaptability may hinder his ability to secure regular playing minutes for Germany.

---

---

As we delve into the "D-Level Losers Cohort," Schlotterbeck repeatedly faltered defensively in the Switzerland match. Two of his first-half passing errors directly led to Swiss goals. Visibly shaken, Schlotterbeck was disorganized for the remainder of the game, and it was quite surprising that Nagelsmann didn't substitute him late on. Playing the full 90 minutes against Ghana, the 26-year-old still appeared erratic in open play. At least Schlotterbeck managed to make some impact from set pieces.

Whether attributed to the highly publicized and unnecessarily protracted contract negotiations or not, Schlotterbeck simply looked unfocused throughout the entire international break. Borussia Dortmund themselves bear some responsibility for dismissing Schlotterbeck’s preferred negotiating partner last weekend. We witnessed a shockingly poor March break from a player supposedly on an irreversible upward trajectory. Everything unraveled here, and one now questions if this professional’s starting role is truly secure. A truly disappointing outcome!

---

---

Stiller unfortunately failed to capitalize on his late call-up, taking time to adapt to a more attack-minded role in Nagelsmann’s XI. Partially due to Schlotterbeck’s errors in the first match, the 24-year-old struggled significantly defensively. To his credit, Stiller recovered admirably against Switzerland, delivering some top-quality threaded passes forward. The Munich-native earned another look from Nagelsmann against Ghana, but now, there’s little to suggest Nagelsmann will change his initial assessment.

Regrettably, after a promising early lob in the opening five minutes, Stiller primarily made mistakes throughout his second appearance. Although he earned the handball penalty, the DFB attack never found its rhythm, largely owing to his errant passes in midfield. An opportunity like this is unlikely to arise again soon for this midfielder. Injuries to both Felix Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlovic granted Stiller his long-awaited chance. However, asking him to rapidly build confidence proved too demanding.

---

---

Indeed, this was simply not a favorable international break for Stuttgart players. The era of Germany relying on Stuttgart and Leverkusen cores (as seen in 2024) is now officially over. Vagnoman was given an opportunity to demonstrate if someone other than Joshua Kimmich could adequately fill the right-back position. Similar to Nnamdi Collins and Ridle Baku before him, Vagnoman proved that Kimmich’s place is secure. Vagnoman was utterly outmaneuvered by fellow Hamburg native Derrick Köhn for Ghana’s 1-1 equalizer in the second match. Nagelsmann directly criticized the 25-year-old afterward.

His World Cup hopes seem dashed.

---

---

To reiterate – this was definitively not a good international break for players from Stuttgart. The 28-year-old, in his first call-up in two years, will largely be remembered for forcing Schlotterbeck into a tactical foul during his substitute appearance against Ghana. Führich, Vagnoman, Nübel, Stiller, and (prior to his goal) Undav comprised a group of players who struggled significantly to make an impact in front of the home crowd on Monday night. Anton Stach, having played only eight minutes against Switzerland, might stand a better chance of securing World Cup playing time than all four of them.