Hold up, because some German legends just dropped a bombshell that’s gonna rock their national team. Former midfielders Didi Hamann and Mario Basler are demanding a full-on “clean-up” of the squad, straight up calling for some senior players to get cut. Hamann didn’t pull any punches, saying he believes **Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Leroy Sané “should no longer play a role”** in the national team. Talk about a blunt message.
The Call for a Clean-Up is Loud and Clear
Hamann’s reasoning is pretty simple, and frankly, it’s brutal: Germany hasn’t gotten past the quarterfinals in the last five tournaments and missed the Round of 16 in the last three World Cups. He’s asking, “Why would things be any different in two years with them still in the team?” Basler backed that sentiment, demanding a “real clean-up” of the current DFB squad. He even went further, saying four or five players, including their captain, have “no business being there anymore.” Basler explicitly called out Kimmich, stating he’s “just too slow” and “will only get slower.” Ouch. He also threw Leroy Sané, Antonio Rüdiger, and Pascal Groß into the mix of players he believes have no place on the national team moving forward. Basler wants a “completely new face of young, hungry players” because they “don’t need any of the ‘washed-up’ players anymore.” He even took a shot at Bayern Munich, suggesting they’ll face problems if they keep relying on Kimmich at the #6 position.
A Voice of Dissent Emerges
Not everyone is on board with Basler’s extreme take, though. Lothar Matthäus, another German legend, has a contrasting view. In his column for Sky Germany, Matthäus actually backed Kimmich, seeing him as a “key figure and captain” for the team under a new coach. However, even Matthäus has a condition: Kimmich “has to play where he needs to be, at the position where he simply has more influence.” It’s not a full vote of confidence, but it’s definitely a different tune than the “too slow” narrative. Matthäus also pointed to Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck as potential “faces of the team” for the future, suggesting a blend of experience and new talent.
So, what’s next for Germany? The debate is clearly raging among the greats about who belongs and who doesn’t. With such strong opinions flying around, the national team’s next roster announcements are gonna be under a microscope. Will they listen to the calls for a drastic overhaul, or will they try to find a middle ground? The future of German football is clearly at stake, and how they navigate these demands will define their path forward.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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