Credit: Tung Manh Phan/Breaking Media

Cameron Smith

Sun 3 May 2026 16:10, UK

Leeds United midfielder Anton Stach is beginning to hit form once again after his return from injury.

The versatile midfielder joined the club from TSG Hoffenheim last summer and has proven to be an astute signing for the Whites.

With an excellent right foot, immense qualities in possession, and a large physical frame, the German has been talismanic at times this term.

Daniel Farke’s side have all but secured their Premier League spot too, amassing 43 points in 35 matches, with Stach playing an integral role in this.

With it still uncertain whether he will make Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad ahead of the upcoming World Cup, MOT Leeds News takes a look at his chances.

Nagelsmann favourite rattles in free-kick for Bayern Munich

After a positive Euro 2024 campaign on home soil, Nagelsmann had reignited the German fanbase after the roughest footballing period in the nation’s history.

However, a lot of that hard work has been undone across the last 12 months, with his stubbornness in regard to squad selection earning him criticism across the Bundesrepublik.

With Joshua Kimmich likely to play out at right-back, those listed above are the realistic German options for the middle of the park.

But even with Felix Nmecha’s tournament in doubt through injury, it is unlikely that the remaining four will all make the Stateside trip, with the option there of Kimmich dropping into the middle, or youngster Assan Ouedraogo or Nadiem Amiri potentially making the squad to provide a more attacking profile.

Leon Goretzka in particular has come under fire from fans across Germany in the last 18 months, with the Bayern man’s best years well and truly in the past.

However, despite his obvious flaws, he remains a favourite of Nagelsmann – starting both of the recent friendly wins against Switzerland and Ghana.

And to potentially strengthen his starting chances, he would rattle in a free-kick in Bayern’s 3-3 draw with Heidenheim on Saturday, scoring a brace on the day.

As reported in a Kicker interview with the national boss back in March, Nagelsmann confirmed that the 31-year-old is set to start the tournament if there are no real upticks in form before the end of the season, with his comments on Stach receiving criticism from both Leeds and German fans.

“He’s doing well there,” he said. “But he’s not exceptionally strong in the air and not a top ball-winner either. He’s someone who prefers to have the game in front of him.

“In my view, his best position at Hoffenheim was the central role in a back three, from where he could drop into the number six position.”

And obviously, those associated with Leeds, and those who kept a keen eye on him in Sinsheim, know this to be a complete misprofiling of Stach.

How are the other German midfielders doing?

Stach has continued to stand out this season, but he still has not been able to fully attract the attention of the German boss.

However, he is not alone in this, with Nagelsmann opting to start Angelo Stiller last time out against Ghana because the match was played in Stuttgart, where Stiller plies his trade.

Once again, Goretzka started and disappointed, while home favourite Deniz Undav came off the bench to score, with the criticism surrounding the fact that he was not the man to start over the horrendously out-of-form Kai Havertz and Nick Woltemade.

Compared to Stach, Stiller is much more of a tempo-controlling midfield, and is an expert at the heart of a Stuttgart team that loves to play with the ball.

With the pair both defensively solid, there is an argument to be made that they would be suited to start together, given their contrasting attributes.

Bayern man Aleksandar Pavlovic has also performed sensationally this season, becoming a real stalwart at the base of the Rekordmeister midfield, while towering Dortmund midfielder Nmecha could be out of action this summer.

If you were to ask around the grounds in Germany as to what the pecking order should be, the order would vary, but there stands a chance that the ageing Goretzka would likely be below those names mentioned.

Stach has performed admirably for Hoffenheim and Leeds for a consistent period now, and the simple fact of the matter is that he should be on the plane, though Nagelsmann’s stubbornness may just prove a real problem as the Germans head across the pond.