Goretzka, Wirtz to start for Germany vs Portugal
dpa
Munich
Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann has decided on nine of the starting XI for the Nations League semi-final against Portugal on Wednesday, but has not told all his players yet.
'If they've been paying attention in training, they know if they'll play,' Nagelsmann told a news conference at Munich's Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
Four names are certainly in the line-up. Captain Joshua Kimmich will be making his 100th cap, goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen is returning after a long injury break and midfielder Leon Goretzka will start.
'I've been paying attention,' the Bayern Munich man smirked at the news conference.
Florian Wirtz will also play despite a transfer saga involving current club Bayer Leverkusen and Liverpool.
Nagelsmann said: 'I don't think that it is weighing on him. It's quite normal to have one or two thoughts.'
Forward Nick Woltemade, given a first call-up to the squad after a strong season for VfB Stuttgart, has made a good impression in training but Nagelsmann stopped short of confirming he will start.
Germany are back in a semi-final for the first time in eight years.
Their last title was at the 2017 Confederations Cup in Russia.
'When you take part in a competition, my mindset is that you want to win it,' Goretzka said of the Nations League, Europe's secondary national competition.
Spain meet France in the other semi in Stuttgart on Thursday.
Sunday's final is in Munich.
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