Former Germany left-back Marcell Jansen has used Transfermarkt’s squad tool to assemble his ideal 26-man roster for the upcoming World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico. With Julian Nagelsmann set to announce his official squad on May 21, Jansen—who earned 45 caps for Germany between 2005 and 2014—has thrown several surprises into the mix, starting with the goalkeeping department.
Jansen envisions a comeback for veteran Manuel Neuer, with whom he shared the pitch 11 times for the national team. Neuer last featured for Germany at Euro 2024 and subsequently announced his international retirement. The 40-year-old has consistently dismissed a return, but Jansen remains optimistic. Should Neuer stay away, Jansen would bypass recent regulars Oliver Baumann (TSG Hoffenheim) and Alexander Nübel (VfB Stuttgart) in favor of Bayern Munich’s Jonas Urbig and Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Moritz Nicolas. Nicolas, a product of Jansen’s former youth club, adds a personal touch to the selection.
In defense, Jansen largely mirrors Nagelsmann’s last lineup, with Josha Vagnoman backing up captain Joshua Kimmich on the right, and David Raum and Nathaniel Brown competing on the left. The only change comes in central defense, where Jansen picks Inter Milan’s newly crowned Serie A champion Yann Bisseck over Newcastle United’s Malick Thiaw.
For midfield and attack, Jansen avoids major shocks but leaves out several fan favorites. Leeds United’s in-form Anton Stach, Cologne’s rising star Said El Mala, and Galatasaray winger Leroy Sané all miss out—a slight surprise given Sané’s regular presence under Nagelsmann and Serge Gnabry’s injury opening a spot. Also omitted are Borussia Dortmund’s Karim Adeyemi and AC Milan’s Niclas Füllkrug.
Instead, Jansen rewards Maximilian Beier and Kevin Schade, both overlooked in recent call-ups. Beier’s strong second half of the season with BVB prompted coach Niko Kovac to publicly advocate for his inclusion: “Personally, I would have taken him, but I’m not the national team coach… His performances speak for themselves.” Jansen also includes Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller, who previously earned a call-up only due to injuries to Aleksander Pavlović and Felix Nmecha. Jansen opts for all three, at the expense of Pascal Groß, who loses his spot in the squad.
