Germany prepare to face Bosnia

Florian Wirtz and Joshua Kimmich will look to fire Germany past Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Tim Kleindienst, Jonathan Burkardt, Alexander Nübel and Jamie Leweling are all in line for their Germany debuts as Die Nationalelf travel to Zenica to play Bosnia & Herzegovina in their UEFA Nations League tie on Friday (kick-off: 8.45pm CEST).

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Germany kicked off the 2024/25 Nations League campaign with a convincing 5-0 victory over Hungary before drawing 2-2 with UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finalists the Netherlands to leave themselves top of Group A3 after two matchdays. For these next two fixtures, several injuries have forced Julian Nagelsmann to make some changes to his squad. Following Manuel Neuer's international retirement, Marc-André ter Stegen was expected to step into his shoes and make the number one jersey his own, but a complete rupture to his right patella tendon has ruled him out for the majority of the season. Kevin Trapp's own fitness issues mean Oliver Baumann, uncapped Janis Blaswich and Alexander Nübel will fight it out for the spot between the sticks, although the DFB has confirmed that the latter will be given tthe nod here. Niclas Füllkrug's absence has opened the door for Kleindienst, who has started the season strongly with three goals across the first six Bundesliga matchdays, while joint-second top goalscorer in the division Burkardt is a late replacement for the injured Kai Havertz. Leweling, meanwhile, came in for Jamal Musiala after the Bayern Munich star was forced to drop out due to a hip problem. The good news for Nagelsmann, at least, is that he can continue to call upon the services of captain Joshua Kimmich and star midfielder Florian Wirtz, while Serge Gnabry returns to the fold after almost a year in the Germany wilderness.

In contrast, Bosnia are without a point across their first two Nations League outings, suffering a 5-2 defeat at the hands of the Netherlands before battling to a goalless draw against Hungary. Here, they are looking to end a run of eight games without a win in all competitions, and former Bundesliga icon and current Bosnia head coach Sergej Barbarez can call upon a number of Germany-based players in their attempts to do so. VfB Stuttgart centre-forward Ermedin Demirović leads the seven-strong group, which also includes St. Pauli goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj, Holstein Kiel's Armin Gigović and new Hoffenheim striker Haris Tabaković. Ermin Bičakčić, Dženis Burnić and Denis Huseinbašić, who all play in Bundesliga 2 for Eintracht Braunschweig, Karlsruher and Cologne respectively, are also included. Outside of the German connection, Nagelsmann's men must keep an eye on Bosnia's record goalscorer and a Bundesliga winner with Wolfsburg in 2009, Edin Džeko, while the experiences Sead Kolašinac spent five years with Schalke before moving on to Arsenal and now Atalanta.

Watch: The best of Tim Kleindienst

Match stats

Wirtz has two goals and an assist in his last three Germany appearances.
Gnabry’s 22 goals for Germany makes him the highest-scoring current squad member.
Deniz Undav made his first senior start for Germany in their last match (against the Netherlands) and marked the occasion with his first international goal.
Nagelsmann’s Germany are unbeaten after the standard 90 minutes of their past 11 matches (excluding an extra-time defeat against Spain at Euro 2024).
Germany are unbeaten in past meetings against Bosnia and Herzegovina, having taken one win and one draw in two friendly encounters. Džeko opened the scoring on their last meeting in 2010, which Germany won 3-1.
Germany are four-time FIFA World Cup winners and three-time European champions, but have yet to reach the final four in three editions of the Nations League.

Probable teams

Germany: Nübel - Kimmich (c), Tah, Rüdiger, Mittelstädt - Andrich, Groß - Gnabry, Wirtz, Führich - Undav
Also in squad: Blaswich, Baumann, Anton, Schlotterbeck, Mittelstädt, Rüdiger, Führich, Leweling, Pavlović, Stiller, Kleindienst, Burkardt, Schade
Out: Havertz (knee), Henrichs (back), Koch (hip), Musiala (hip), Raum (ankle), Ter Stegen (knee)
Coach: Julian Nagelsmann

Bosnia: Vasilj - Gazibegović, Bičakčić, Katić, Barišić, Kolašinac - Šarić, Bašić, Burnić - Džeko (c), Demirović
Out: -
Coach: Sergej Barbarez

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Bosnia

Germany

UEFA European Championship Nations League, Group A3 Bilino Polje Stadium, Zenica

Henrichs drops out of the squad

Benjamin Henrichs has become the latest RB Leipzig player to withdraw from international duty. The full-back has departed due to a back issue, and Nagelsmann has decided to not call up a replacement.

Gosens replaces Raum

Leipzig's David Raum has dropped out of the squad due to an ankle injury and has been replaced by Robin Gosens.

Last time they met

The last time these two sides met was in 2010, in a 3-1 victory for Germany in Frankfurt. The goals on that day came from Bastian Schweinsteiger (2) and Philipp Lahm. Former Wolfsburg man Edin Dzeko got the only goal for the visitors.

First call-up

Mainz forward Jonathan Burkardt is in the senior squad for the first time, having started the season in fine form with five goals in six Bundesliga games. Burkardt has represented his country at every level from U15 to U21 and won the U21 European Championship in 2021. Burkardt is the first Mainz player to be called up to the Germany squad since Anton Stach in 2022.

Familiar faces

Bosnia have seven squad members that play in either the Bundesliga or Bundesliga 2. The most notable of these is Stuttgart's Ermedin Demirović, who has several friends in the Germany camp, including: Chris Führich, Alexander Nübel, Jamie Leweling, Angelo Stiller, Maximilian Mittelstädt and Deniz Undav.

Bosnian struggles

The hosts have not had the best of times recently. They are without a win in their past eight games across all competitions and suffered a 5-2 defeat in their Nations League opener against the Netherlands. Still, they were able to pick up a point last time out versus Hungary.

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Watch: The best of Tim Kleindienst

The Borussia Mönchengladbach man has enjoyed a strong start to the season, scoring three goals across the first six matchdays. Take a look at some of his best moments for former club Heidenheim and Gladbach amongst the elite.

Fresh faces

They are four uncapped players included in Julian Nagelsmann's latest squad. While Janis Blaswich was called up last year, he didn't make it on to the field of play, while Tim Kleindienst, Jonathan Burkardt and Jamie Leweling are also all preparing for a potential first senior appearance.

Welcome!

Follow all of the build-up and live action from Germany's UEFA Nations League clash with Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica.