Bundesliga
Ortega named in Germany squad
Uncapped Manchester City and ex-Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is the surprise inclusion in Julian Nagelsmann’s squad for November’s UEFA Nations League games at home to Bosnia and Herzegovina and away in Hungary.
Ortega, 32, has never played for his country at any level, having been an unused substitute for the U19s in fixtures back in autumn 2010 and being placed on stand-by as the fourth goalkeeper for UEFA Euro 2020.
The goalkeeper boasts 67 Bundesliga and 170 Bundesliga 2 appearances across spells with boyhood club Bielefeld and 1860 Munich, while he has been Manchester City’s back-up since joining in 2022 after Arminia’s relegation. He has made 38 appearances for Pep Guardiola’s team, keeping 19 clean sheets and winning the treble of English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League in his first season in England.
Watch: Ortega’s top 5 Bundesliga saves
Ortega will compete with Alexander Nübel and Oliver Baumann for a starting spot, in the injury-enforced absence of Marc-André ter Stegen and Manuel Neuer’s international retirement.
There’s also a return for Felix Nmecha, with the Borussia Dortmund midfielder earning his first call-up since September 2023 as he looks to add to his solitary senior cap from March of that year against Belgium.
There is a blog for Nagelsmann, as the in-form Deniz Undav pulls out of the squad due to injury. He is replaced by Leroy Sané, while Tim Kleindienst retains his place alongside Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry.
Watch: Tim Kleindienst nominated for October Player of the Month
November’s two fixtures are the last of the Nations League group stage. Germany are already assured of a place in the quarter-finals, although first place is not yet secure, with the advantage over the Netherlands and Hungary still five points.
Nagelsmann’s side host Bosnia at Freiburg’s Europa-Park Stadion on 16 November (8.45pm CET) before heading to Budapest to face Hungary on 19 November (8.45pm CET).
Germany squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, Stefan Ortega
Defenders: Robin Gosens, Benjamin Henrichs, Joshua Kimmich, Robin Koch, Maximilian Mittelstädt, Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Jonathan Tah
Midfielders: Robert Andrich, Julian Brandt, Chris Führich, Pascal Groß, Jamal Musiala, Felix Nmecha, Angelo Stiller, Florian Wirtz
Forwards: Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Tim Kleindienst, Leroy Sané