After back-to-back group-stage eliminations at the World Cup, Germany will be under heavy scrutiny to put up a significantly improved performance at the upcoming tournament to be held across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

With about three weeks remaining before their first group game against Curaçao, head coach Julian Nagelsmann seems to have already finalised most of his preferred starting eleven.

Assuming there are no late injuries, Manuel Neuer is set to return between the posts, having come out of international retirement specifically for this competition. In front of him, the back four is expected to feature Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, and David Raum. The experienced Antonio Rüdiger will be a strong contender for a central defensive role, while Nathaniel Brown could serve as an alternative to Raum on the left flank.

Although Kimmich has predominantly featured in central midfield for Bayern Munich this season, Nagelsmann has confirmed his plan to use him as a right-back, mainly due to limited convincing options in that position.

In midfield, Aleksandar Pavlović appears poised to start after impressing during the qualification campaign, though an injury saw him miss the March friendlies against Switzerland and Ghana. The key question remaining is who will partner him in the double pivot.

Despite spending much of the domestic season on Bayern Munich’s bench, Leon Goretzka is widely tipped to start, with Nagelsmann publicly praising his professionalism and contribution multiple times.

However, with Serge Gnabry sidelined through injury, Goretzka may be pushed into a more advanced attacking midfield role — a position he has effectively played before under Nagelsmann, who appreciates his physicality and aerial presence in forward areas.

If this tactical tweak happens, Felix Nmecha is expected to line up alongside Pavlović in midfield — a partnership that has become more likely since Nagelsmann recently described the Borussia Dortmund midfielder as a “world-class” talent.

Further upfield, Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz, and Jamal Musiala are virtually guaranteed starters, forming the creative core of Nagelsmann’s attacking blueprint, as he reiterated while revealing his squad list.

Should Goretzka be used as an attacking midfielder, Havertz would lead the line. Alternatively, Nick Woltemade might feature as the central striker, freeing Havertz and Goretzka to operate slightly deeper. Another option could see Stuttgart’s Jamie Leweling introduced on the wing, in which case Goretzka would move back into a deeper midfield role and Nmecha would likely drop out of the starting XI.

At present, the most probable configuration still looks like Nmecha and Pavlović operating as the midfield double pivot behind Goretzka, Musiala, Wirtz, and Havertz.

Predicted Line-up:
Manuel Neuer – Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum – Aleksandar Pavlović, Felix Nmecha – Jamal Musiala, Leon Goretzka, Florian Wirtz – Kai Havertz.

Main Alternatives:
Manuel Neuer – Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum – Aleksandar Pavlović, Leon Goretzka – Jamal Musiala, Kai Havertz, Florian Wirtz – Nick Woltemade.
Manuel Neuer – Joshua Kimmich, Jonathan Tah, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum – Aleksandar Pavlović, Leon Goretzka – Jamie Leweling, Jamal Musiala, Florian Wirtz – Kai Havertz.