Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega is set to be called up by Germany for the first time.
Head coach Julian Nagelsmann will announce his squad for the Nations League games against Bosnia & Herzegovina and Hungary on Thursday and Ortega, 32, is expected to replace RB Salzburg’s Janis Blaswich, who is suffering through poor form in the Austrian Bundesliga.
Stuttgart’s Alexander Nubel, on loan from Bayern Munich, and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann will be the other goalkeepers included.
The chance for Ortega comes at a time of flux in the German national team. Since the retirement of long-term first-choice Manuel Neuer in August, Nagelsmann has also lost Marc-Andre ter Stegen to serious injury. Nubel and Baumann played a game each during the last international break while Fulham’s Bernd Leno, who has nine caps for his country but has not played since 2021, declined the opportunity of call-up, citing his lack of desire to be a third-choice.
Germany are unbeaten so far in their Nations League group, having won three games from four. They will face Bosnia in Freiburg on November 16 before travelling to Budapest to take on Hungary three days later.
Ortega has played four times for City this season, twice each in the Carabao Cup and Champions League. Last season, he played in seven of City’s final nine Premier League games as they won the title. Ortega has featured 38 times for City since joining in 2022, having previously played for Arminia Bielefeld and 1860 Munich.
A DFB (German FA) spokesperson declined to comment.
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Manchester City finally have their ‘moment’ courtesy of Stefan Ortega
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