The DBB team will play its first World Cup qualifying game against Israel in Ulm on Friday. National coach Alex Mumbru has now announced the squad he will be fielding for the game—and who will be captain.
For the first window in the World Cup qualifiers after winning the European Championship in the summer, Alex Mumbru called up four European champions – Andreas Obst, Oscar da Silva, Justus Hollatz, and Isaac Bonga – and several newcomers to his 17-man squad following the late nomination of Berlin’s Jack Kayil.
As is well known, twelve players are allowed to be listed on the match report per game. While Obst did not travel with the national team due to injury, the national coach still had four players to drop for the respective games.
Welp and Pape must wait for their debut – Sengfelder captain
For the first game against Israel (Friday, 7:30 p.m.) in Ulm, it was Collin Welp, Till Pape, Kay Bruhnke, and Nelson Weidemann, who was injured with an ankle injury and was the last player to be cut before the European Championship. With Norris Agbakoko, who was called up for the first time, and Mahir Agva, the big surprise in the squad, two players could make their debut.
Pape and Welp, who was invited for the first time, will therefore have to wait a little longer for their first appearance for the DBB team. Bruhnke already has two international games under his belt, while Weidemann has played in 14. Ulm local hero Christian Sengfelder, bronze medalist with Germany at the 2022 European Championships on home soil, will serve as captain.
On Thursday, the entire squad was able to train together for the first time and worked on “internalizing the game plan and familiarizing themselves with the systems,” the DBB announced on its website.
The squad at a glance:
Norris Agbakoko (Alba Berlin), Mahir Agva (Yukatel Merkezefendi Belediyesi/TUR), Isaac Bonga (Partizan Belgrade/SRB), Oscar da Silva (FC Bayern Munich), Malte Delow (Alba Berlin), Justus Hollatz (FC Bayern Munich), Jack Kayil (Alba Berlin, nominated after the fact), David Krämer (Real Madrid/ESP), Jonas Mattisseck (Alba Berlin), Joshua Obiesie (Basketball Löwen Braunschweig), Louis Olinde (BAXI Manresa/ESP), Christian Sengfelder (ratiopharm ulm)