Germany Calls Up Kevin Schade for UEFA Nations League Matches

Germany’s national football team has made a significant adjustment ahead of its upcoming UEFA Nations League matches, with head coach Julian Nagelsmann extending a late call-up to Kevin Schade, a forward playing for the Premier League club Brentford. This decision comes as a result of Eintracht Frankfurt’s central defender Robin Koch withdrawing from the squad due to a hip injury sustained in a Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich.

The 22-year-old Schade, although primarily associated with Germany, remains eligible to represent Nigeria due to his Nigerian father. Up until now, his international appearances for Germany have been limited to friendlies, allowing him to retain his dual national status. Schade has previously represented Germany at various youth levels, including U18, U19, U20, and U21, and made his senior debut in a friendly against Peru.

Germany’s upcoming matches in October against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Netherlands could potentially cap-tie the Potsdam-born player to the German national team, should he participate in these competitive fixtures. So far this season, Schade has been a regular feature for Brentford, making nine appearances and providing an assist.

Julian Nagelsmann faces several challenges, notably replacing stars like Jamal Musiala, who is sidelined due to injury. Musiala, who switched his allegiance to Germany, had been considered one of the country’s most promising talents. Meanwhile, forward Lukas Nmecha, another product of German football’s youth system, has not featured for the national team since September 2022.

The German Football Association recently succeeded in securing the allegiance of key players despite growing competition, particularly from England and Nigeria. However, they have since faced the loss of several dual-nationality players like Jordan Torunarigha and Kevin Akpoguma, who opted to represent Nigeria internationally.

As Germany’s national team begins its quest for success in the UEFA Nations League and prepares for the FIFA 2026 Men’s World Cup, Nagelsmann and his team find themselves focusing on long-term strategies, including determining a successor for the injured Marc-André ter Stegen in the goalkeeper position. Goalkeepers Alexander Nübel and Oliver Baumann have been called up in ter Stegen’s absence to solidify the team’s defense.