Nagelsmann has to do without Bisseck for the time being
With Yann Aurel Bisseck, at least one German international is in the Champions League final. This also has consequences for national coach Julian Nagelsmann.
In the Champions League final – and likely to be called upon immediately afterward in the Nations League: Yann Aurel Bisseck. IMAGO/ZUMA Press Wire
Yann Aurel Bisseck may arrive as a Champions League winner when the German national team meets before the Final Four tournament of the Nations League - albeit with a delay.
Because the 24-year-old central defender reached the final with Inter Milan on Tuesday evening, he will not be able to attend on May 30th when national coach Julian Nagelsmann assembles his squad in Herzogenaurach. The final will take place one day later, in Munich, just 165 kilometers away as the crow flies. There, the German national team will face Portugal in the Nations League semifinals on June 4th.
Although Bisseck has only played one international match—the recent 3-3 draw with Italy in Dortmund—he is likely to be included in Nagelsmann's squad simply because Nico Schlotterbeck (torn meniscus in his left knee) is certain to be available and Antonio Rüdiger (partial tear of the lateral meniscus) is unlikely to be available. In addition to the established Jonathan Tah, Nagelsmann recently selected Robin Koch (Eintracht Frankfurt) for the central defense.
Can Nagelsmann rely on Havertz?A second player, Kai Havertz, could be forced to travel later. Although the Arsenal striker has been sidelined with a thigh injury since the beginning of February, according to coach Mikel Arteta, he could make his comeback this season and would therefore also be a Nations League candidate for Nagelsmann. The Gunners will play Paris Saint-Germain this Wednesday for their second ticket to the Champions League final.
In Inter's thrilling 4-3 win over FC Barcelona on Tuesday, Bisseck played as the right-wing member of the back three around Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni, just as he did in the first leg. This time, however, he was substituted for Matteo Darmian in the 71st minute with the score at 2-2. He nevertheless made a lasting impression afterward: When Davide Frattesi celebrated his winning goal on the fence in front of the fans in the 99th minute, Bisseck, who had rushed over, also euphorically climbed up a bit.
