Last Thursday (21 May) saw Julian Nagelsmann name his Germany World Cup squad (see below), which included Newcastle United duo Nick Woltemade and Malick Thiaw.
Germany kick off their World Cup finals with a first group match on 14 June against Curacao, then playing the Ivory Coast on 20 June, before their final group game on 25 June against Ecuador.
Ahead of that they have two warm up friendlies.
Germany face Finland in Mainz this Sunday (31 May).
Then they play the USA in Chicago on Saturday 6 June.
Ahead of their upcoming friendlies and then the World Cup finals themselves, Julian Nagelsmann speaking about Nick Woltemade.
The Germany boss asked about how recently at Newcastle United, William Osula has been playing as the centre-forward and Big Nick in a deeper role behind Osula.
Julian Nagelsmann giving his verdict: “Nick Woltemade is not a classic counter-attacking striker. At Newcastle United he is often 70 metres away from goal, which makes it difficult for him to get into the box.”
In the final home match of the season Newcastle United pressed high and forced a mistake from West Ham for the opening goal. Harvey Barnes dispossessing a Hammers defender wide right and then running into space and producing a perfect cross for Nick Woltemade to score a smart volley.
Julian Nagelsmann saying about that win over West Ham and what he saw overall: “Nick Woltemade often initiated things out wide and then the ball was in the box so quickly that he could no longer get there himself. You have to get him closer to goal.”
The Germany boss wasn’t criticising Eddie Howe and said that every manager “chooses his own style” that works best for the team.
However, Julian Nagelsmann believing that the way Germany use Big Nick gets more goal threat directly from the player: “The way we play suits Nick Woltemade because he has shorter distances to the goal and he already scored many goals and played many good games for us.”
Rudi Voller is Sporting Director for the Germany national set up and he gave his thoughts on the Newcastle United striker: “A lot has happened for Nick Woltemade over the last year. He won the cup [in Germany with VfB Stuttgart], then moved abroad [to Newcastle United], became a national player [with Germany]. Now it is another step up to be at a World Cup. The important thing is to enjoy it and take it all in.”
So much over the top nonsense from UK media claiming his signing has been a supposed disaster for Newcastle United Yet in 36 starts (plus some sub appearances) across four competitions, Nick Woltemade has scored 11 goals and in total had 16 direct goal involvements (including five assists).
Full Germany squad for the 2026 World Cup finals:
Goalkeepers
Oliver Baumann TSG Hoffenheim
Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich
Alexander Nübel VfB Stuttgart
Defensive players
Waldemar Anton Borussia Dortmund
Nathaniel Brown Eintracht Frankfurt
Pascal Gross Brighton
Joshua Kimmich Bayern Munich
Felix Nmecha Borussia Dortmund
Aleksandar Pavlovic Bayern Munich
David Raum RB Leipzig
Antonio Rüdiger Real Madrid
Nico Schlotterbeck Borussia Dortmund
Angelo Stiller VfB Stuttgart
Jonathan Tah Bayern Munich
Malick Thiaw Newcastle United
Offensive players
Nadiem Amiri FSV Mainz 05
Maximilian Beier Borussia Dortmund
Leon Goretzka Bayern Munich
Kai Havertz Arsenal
Lennart Karl Bayern Munich
Jamie Leweling VfB Stuttgart
Jamal Musiala Bayern Munich
Leroy Sané Galatasaray
Deniz Undav VfB Stuttgart
Florian Wirtz Liverpool
Nick Woltemade Newcastle United