The Summer's Football Frenzy: Club World Cup, U21 Euro, and DFB National Team Vacation
Summer Abundance for DFB Players: Holiday, Club World Cup, U21 European Championship - Summer Showcase: DFB Junior Team's Title Victory at Club Championship and U21 Tournament
Football fans, buckle up! After the third-place clash against France in the Nations League, the excitement for many national team players is far from over. The new Club World Cup format, hosting up to eleven players from FC Bayern Munich or Borussia Dortmund, is set from June 15 to July 13 in the US.
Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade will dash off immediately post-France game to join the German U21 team, with their Euro Championship final round commencing in Slovakia as early as June 16. The other half of Julian Nagelsmann's 24-men squad will enjoy some well-deserved R&R.
Despite missing out on the Nations League final against Spain, Nagelsmann shows no preferential treatment to Bayern players like captain Joshua Kimmich, new Munich recruit Jonathan Tah, or even Borussia Dortmund professionals like Felix Nmecha or Waldemar Anton during today's Stuttgart game (3 PM/RTL and DAZN).
"No, we haven't made any special deals with the clubs," Nagelsmann clarifies regarding the Club World Cup. "We've previously done that. With essential players, we've guaranteed nothing will interfere."
Sidelining World-Class Players
While some stars like Bayern's Jamal Musiala or Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger, who suffered injuries, won't feature in this line-up, Kai Havertz is on the mend with the Premier League's Arsenal in the final stages. "It's not just about the Club World Cup, but also the season ahead and World Cup qualifiers," explains Nagelsmann.
Keeping His Cool About USA Trip
"I believe the players have the necessary energy to play against France and then start the Club World Cup," says Nagelsmann. "I haven't received any SMS pleading for special considerations." And those he does, Nagelsmann promises, he'll rebuff during the September qualifiers, as the DFB's World Cup qualifiers begin in the autumn with six matches by the year-end.
Dortmund's Pascal Groß outlines his excitement about the Club World Cup, in the new mega format with 32 clubs and a tantalizing prize money of one billion US dollars: "My mind's not yet on the Club World Cup. I'm fundamentally open to the competition. I'll jet off to the USA and am curious to see what lies ahead." But first, there's still the challenge against France to tackle with.
A Closer Look at the Club World Cup
In case you're wondering, the Club World Cup's new XXL format with 32 teams is scheduled for 2025, not 2021. The 2021 FIFA Club World Cup held in the United Arab Emirates from February 3 to Feb 12, 2022, included seven teams from different confederations. The prize money amount for the 2021 Club World Cup was not explicitly stated. Intriguingly, for 2025, the tournament will feature 32 teams divided into eight groups, with a hefty prize pool of one billion US dollars at stake.
Sources:
- "Football National Team Vacation, Club World Cup, U21 Euro: The Summer of the DFB Players" - DW Sports
- "FIFA Club World Cup" - FIFA
- "2021 FIFA Club World Cup" - FIFA
- "2025 FIFA Club World Cup - Wikipedia" - Wikipedia
- Despite several national team players participating in the Club World Cup, the football frenzy continues with the U21 Euro Championship, as Stuttgart's Nick Woltemade will join the German U21 team after the France game.
- With the Club World Cup offering a tantalizing prize money of one billion US dollars, Dortmund's Pascal Groß expresses his excitement, but he first has to tackle the challenge against France before jetting off to the USA.
