Germany vs. Italy: UEFA Nations League Preview

Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany seek to secure passage to the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League semi-finals on Sunday evening. The German national team will play before a full capacity crowd of 81,365 live spectators at Signal Iduna Park. Nagelsmann’s team enter the second leg of the quarter-final tie with Italy carrying a 2-1 aggregate goal lead from Thursday’s fixture at the San Siro.

Nagelsmann’s second half tactical tweaks enabled the Germans to overcome a 0-1 half-time deficit in the previous match. It stands to reason that influential second half subs Tim Kleindienst and Nico Schlotterbeck will feature in the starting XI this time. Kleindienst scored the equaliser shortly after coming on. Schlotterbeck looks set to start in the stadium of his Bundesliga club, Borussia Dortmund.

Germany initially lined up in a 4-2-2-2 formation against Italy on Thursday. Nagelsmann clearly aimed to give Mainz call-ups Nadiem Amiri and Jonathan Burkardt a formal audition together. When this went awry, the Bundestrainer switched to a 4-2-3-1/5-4-1 hybrid at the half. Schlotterbeck – on for a weak David Raum at the half – filled in at left-back.

Speaking at a DFB press conference on Saturday, Nagelsmann singled out Schlotterbeck for praise. After not mentioning Schlotterbeck at all during his initial post-match comments, the Bundestrainer plainly stated that “Nico was the difference” in his latest public comments. It’s quite possible that the Dortmund professional will get another audition at left back.

An alternate scenario in which Schlotterbeck still starts could see the BVB man work alongside Jonathan Tah and Antonio Rüdiger in a back-three. In this case, Joshua Kimmich would move into his preferred midfield position alongside close friend and teammate Leon Goretzka in midfield. Schlotterbeck could also replace Tah – who has been in weak form recently – outright.

With Amiri looking uncomfortable on the second attacking axis on Thursday, Nagelsmann finds himself in need of another winger. Both Karim Adeyemi and Jamie Leweling had their moments in late relief shifts off the bench. The former nevertheless demonstrated a bit more pace.

Given how spectacularly Adeyemi began the year with the German U21s (before getting injured) a start for another Dortmund man seems plausible. Leweling might start if Nagelsmann opts to give his VfB Stuttgart teammate Maximilian Mittelstädt a go at left-back. In that case Leroy Sané will remain on the right.

In total, GGFN projects three BVB starters.

Predicted Germany Lineup v Italy

Oliver Baumann – Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck – Pascal Groß, Leon Goretzka – Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala, Karim Adeyemi – Tim Kleindienst

Germany Projected Lineup (4-2-3-1)

GGFN | Peter Weis