Germany legend Lothar Matthaus has admitted he was surprised by Julian Nagelsmann’s decision to call up Assan Ouedraogo following Lennart Karl’s injury setback ahead of the World Cup.
Karl, one of Germany’s brightest young talents, was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a thigh injury in training camp.
The Bayern Munich midfielder’s withdrawal forced Nagelsmann into a late squad adjustment, but the choice of replacement has sparked debate.
Rather than selecting a direct replacement or reinforcing areas viewed as thin within the squad, Nagelsmann opted to bring in RB Leipzig midfielder Assan Ouedraogo — a move Matthaus did not see coming.
Speaking about Karl’s injury, the former Germany captain expressed sympathy for the young midfielder.
“That was obviously a shock for me. But it’s also the risk you have as a player, having to deal with injuries. The fact that it came at the worst possible time is bad enough. I’m sorry, but life goes on.”
While Matthaus understands that injuries are an unavoidable part of football, he admitted the decision to replace Karl with Ouedraogo left many observers scratching their heads.
“Yes, surprising for me, too, because it wasn’t a like-for-like change in the end. They’ve brought in an attacking midfielder. For someone who has qualities up front. But Julian Nagelsmann certainly had his reasons.”
The German icon revealed he had expected other options to be considered before Ouedraogo’s inclusion.
“I would have thought of (Said) El Mala. El Mala was my first thought. Then I thought, I’m still missing a backup for Joshua Kimmich at right-back. (Waldemar) Anton from Dortmund can play there, but it’s not his ideal position.
“Then I thought of (Josha) Vagnoman. Maybe also (Ridle) Baku from Leipzig. And now I’m a bit surprised. I’ve already been asking around a bit. Not just me, but many people are surprised by this nomination.”
Despite the criticism and surprise surrounding the decision, Germany’s squad appears settled heading into the tournament.
Nagelsmann clearly sees qualities in Ouedraogo that fit his plans, and with the World Cup now fast approaching, attention will shift from squad selection debates to performances on the pitch.
For Germany, the focus remains on mounting a serious challenge for the trophy — even if some of the coach’s decisions continue to divide opinion among fans and former players alike.
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