Credit: Imago

Cameron Smith

Thu 21 May 2026 13:28, UK

Leeds United star Anton Stach will be wondering what more he has to do after Germany’s World Cup squad was announced.

The midfielder has been fantastic this season under Daniel Farke, proving to be a talisman in the club’s fight for survival.

After joining from TSG Hoffenheim last summer, Stach has taken to life in the Premier League like a duck to water.

However, the announcement of Julian Nagelsmann’s squad on Thursday revealed that he will miss the World Cup, despite being fit in time after his injury layoff ahead of the clash against Brighton.

After his excellent season, the 27-year-old will be left wondering what more he can do to impress the German boss.

Who has Julian Nagelsmann picked in midfield for Germany?

Called up during the most recent international break in March, Stach joined the Germany squad for the first time since 2022.

This came as a surprise, given Nagelsmann’s previous comments suggesting Stach would not be part of his plans.

Those comments have now come to fruition ahead of the summer tournament, with the former Bayern Munich manager looking elsewhere.

Frustration on Stach’s side will stem from the fact that, bar Angelo Stiller and Aleksandar Pavlovic, his season has been far more impressive than that of the other names mentioned.

With skipper Joshua Kimmich likely to play at right-back, the two spots in central midfield were always likely to go to those two, alongside Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha.

Nagelsmann, though, has continued to persist with the ageing Leon Goretzka in the build-up to the tournament, drawing strong criticism given that the departing Bayern man is in contention for a starting spot, while Pascal Gross’s best years are behind him.

Mainz man Nadiem Amiri will likely provide cover in the attacking midfield role, although he is capable of dropping deeper.

In an ideal world, Leeds man Stach would be competing for a starting spot alongside the aforementioned Stiller, Nmecha and Pavlovic. Instead, he is now left watching from home.

Anton Stach will not be the only player with frustrations

The squad announcement has not been well received by fans across Germany, who are not only disappointed not to see players from their own clubs included, but are also baffled by the overall makeup of the group.

Despite being badly out of form for Galatasaray, Nagelsmann has once again opted for Leroy Sane, while both Chris Fuhrich and Said El Mala of Stuttgart and Köln have been left out.

As a result, the squad is without a left-sided attacker, while Kimmich is the only recognised right-back.

El Mala and Fuhrich will both feel frustrated, especially after the former dragged his boyhood club to safety, while Maximilian Beier has been rewarded with a place despite a disappointing season at Dortmund – with teammate Karim Adeyemi left at home.

Alongside Stach in midfield, Tom Bischof also has a strong case to feel aggrieved, with the Bayern man ignored, while Manuel Neuer has strolled back into the squad following his international retirement as if nothing happened, despite Oliver Baumann’s strong performances in the build-up.

Stach will not be the only player feeling frustrated this summer, which may ease the pain slightly. But judging by the mood of the German fanbase, the general consensus is that things could come crashing down for Nagelsmann this summer – unless everyone is proven incredibly wrong.