World Cup: Biggest question marks surrounding Germany's starting line-up

The World Cup is here, and for Germany, things can surely only get better. Ever since Joachim Löw led Die Mannschaft to a fourth title back in 2014, it has been nothing but misery for the Germans on the grandest stage. They fell victim to the champion's curse back in 2018 and bowed out at the group stage for the first time ever, before repeating that unwanted feat once again four years later in Qatar. 

Now, Julian Nagelsmann takes charge at the World Cup for the first time, and if Euro 2024 is anything to go by, his side has already turned a corner. Under the former Leipzig man, Germany powered their way to the quarterfinals of those European Championships on home turf two years ago before ultimately losing to eventual champions Spain. And with plenty of young talent at his disposal, such as Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, there is lots of optimism ahead of their World Cup opener against Curaçao in Houston on June 14th. 

Online betting sites are, however, erring on the side of caution somewhat. The popular 5Gringos online sportsbook currently positions Die Mannschaft as a 14/1 contender, certainly dangerous, but not a genuine favourite like Spain (9/2) and France (5/1). If Germany is to become a serious contender, then manager Nagelsmann will need to get the big decisions right regarding his starting line-up. 

Who Starts at Centre Back? 

Central defenders Jonathan Tah and Antonio Rüdiger are two of Nagelsmann's four most selected players throughout his reign as Germany manager, alongside captain Joshua Kimmich and Florian Wirtz. If this World Cup had been held a year ago, then both would have been a shoo-in to start. However, over the course of the last 12 months, Borussia Dortmund's Nico Schlotterbeck has forced his way into contention after several rock-solid displays at Signal Iduna Park. 

The 26-year-old has enjoyed a potentially career-defining campaign in North Rhine-Westphalia this term. He is dominant both in the air and in duels, while his ability to play out from the back is second to none. Not only that, but he has a goalscoring threat from set pieces as well, notching six goals in the Bundesliga this term. Nagelsmann clearly likes what he sees, and Schlotterbeck has started both of Germany's recent friendlies. 

Bayern Munich's Tah is widely expected to start. He has started all but three of Germany's games since that Euro 2024 quarter-final defeat to Spain, and it would be a huge surprise if he was on the bench for the opener against Curacao. For Rüdiger, however, it's a different matter entirely. 

The experienced Real Madrid man has endured an injury-hit campaign in the Spanish capital, missing almost the entirety of the first half of the season. Since returning, Rüdiger has visibly looked like a man who isn't playing at his best, and has come in for plenty of criticism from the Bernabeu faithful after Los Blancos' disastrous performances this term. Nagelsmann has taken notice, and "Toni" hasn't started for the national team since last September. 

Who Starts Up Front? 

Nagelsmann has similar questions to answer at the top end of the pitch as well. Germany have selected four strikers in their World Cup squad. Only one of them is in any kind of form, but he is the least experienced of the lot on the international stage. 

Arsenal's Kai Havertz is the favourite to start, and his goal in the Gunners' recent Champions League final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain will have only strengthened his case. However, the former Bayer Leverkusen man has struggled with injuries for the better part of a year. It remains to be seen whether he's firstly back to his pre-injury best and secondly whether his body can hold up for what promises to be the most gruelling World Cup ever. 

Newcastle's Nick Woltemade looked like he had made the starting position his own while Havertz was injured at the back end of 2025. He was in blistering form for both club and country, but that form has since nosedived, and the 24-year-old has netted just twice since the turn of the year. Dortmund's Maximilian Beier has had a solid debut campaign with the club, but he seems to thrive in a somewhat deeper role, rather than as an out-and-out striker. 

Deniz Undav is the man in form. The Stuttgart man has netted 25 goals this season, including 18 in the Bundesliga, a number only Harry Kane can better. He has six goals in eight games, and if we're talking purely on numbers, he is head and shoulders clear of his fellow strikers. Nagelsmann, however, is big on Havertz and what he can bring to a team in terms of both link-up play and pressing from the front, and he may well opt for the safer, more experienced option compared to Undav, who has just burst onto the scene in the last 12 months.