Following a “perfect game,” as described by RTL commentator Lothar Matthäus, SC Freiburg’s defender Matthias Ginter is garnering support for a potential return to the German national team. Ginter was instrumental in Freiburg’s Europa League victory over Celta Vigo, presenting a compelling case for rejoining the German squad after a three-year absence.
Matthias Ginter’s Recent Surge in Form
Ginter has been a standout performer for Freiburg in the Bundesliga this season, contributing two goals and four assists in 27 league starts. Freiburg’s head coach, Julian Schuster, has consistently featured Ginter in his starting lineup 42 times across all competitions, with the local Freiburg native completing the full 90 minutes in every single one of these matches.
Ginter’s impressive form has been particularly evident over the past month. He was recognized as “Man-of-the-Match” by Get German Football News during Freiburg’s Europa League away loss to Genk on March 12th. He went on to score a crucial goal and provide an assist in the second leg, contributing to Freiburg’s comeback victory.
The historic win that secured Freiburg’s spot in the 2025/26 Europa League quarterfinals coincided with German national team coach Julian Nagelsmann announcing his squad for the March international break. Ginter found himself fielding questions about a potential return to the national team during this period.
Analysis of Ginter’s Dominant Performance
Matthäus’ assessment of Ginter’s performance was spot on. Ginter dominated his individual duels and effectively supported Freiburg’s attack with 82 touches and 61 accurate passes. Crucially, Ginter demonstrated his versatility by effectively playing as a forward late in the match, a quality that Nagelsmann might find valuable for the upcoming World Cup.
Ginter’s display was reminiscent of Per Mertesacker to many German football observers. If he can sustain this level of performance, a call-up to the German squad for the first time since 2023 would be a logical step. Ginter, a former player for Borussia Dortmund and Borussia Mönchengladbach, was part of the 2014 and 2018 German World Cup squads, although he did not feature in either tournament.
Vincenzo Grifo Praises Ginter’s Impact
“We were a brave and confident team today,” Grifo told RTL after the match. “We made excellent decisions and were the better team from the first minute onwards. We have the perfect mix of veterans and youngsters on the team. The young players perform with freedom and confidence, knowing they have room for error. We experienced players can step in to support them.”
“He’s an outstanding player who leads by example and proves his worth week after week,” Grifo continued, speaking about Ginter. “He provides us with incredible stability. I don’t know if he lost a single duel. He was simply magnificent today.”
Ginter Addresses Questions About National Team Return
“We [myself and Nagelsmann] have been in contact,” Ginter confirmed in the mixed zone. “I’ll do everything I can [to earn a call-up] as long as it’s possible. There’s nothing else I can do. It’s not my decision. I’ll just do my best, including playing as a striker late when I’m needed.”
