All eyes on Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl as Germany prepare for Switzerland friendly

Bayern Munich's Lennart Karl could make his senior international debut when Germany travel to Basel for a friendly with Switzerland on Friday (kick-off: 8.45pm CET).

Eighteen-year-old winger Karl is one of two new faces in Julian Nagelsmann's 26-man squad after contributing 14 goals in all competitions during his breakout senior campaign at Bayern.

Karl - who scored three goals in his first two Germany U21 appearances last November - is joined in the team by club-mate and fellow first-time call-up Jonas Urbig. The 22-year-old goalkeeper has filled in for former Germany captain Manuel Neuer on a number of occasions this season, and is widely seen as the Bayern No.1's long-term successor.

VfB Stuttgart's Josha Vagnoman, Deniz Undav, Angelo Stiller and Chris Führich will also hope their eye-catching domestic performances translate onto the international stage after being recalled to the side, alongside English Premier League trio Pascal Groß (Brighton & Hove Albion), Kai Havertz (Arsenal) and Anton Stach (Leeds United).

Watch: Lennart Karl - lighting up the game

Three days after the game in Basel, Germany play host to Ghana at Stuttgart's MHP Arena as Nagelsmann prepares to cast a final eye over his options before naming his squad for this summer's FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Bayern playmaker Jamal Musiala has not been called up after various minor setbacks following his return from a serious leg and ankle injury, but is expected to be involved when Germany kick off their World Cup campaign against Curaçao on 14 June. 

"We and the club have the same priority: keeping the player fit and healthy, so that he can play for us at the World Cup," Nagelsmann explained. "I've decided against naming him in the squad, because it doesn't benefit him, us or Bayern."

Julian Nagelsmann (r.) has named six Bayern Munich players in his squad, including national team captain Joshua Kimmich (l.). - IMAGO/Revierfoto

About the players

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Lennart

Karl

FC Bayern München

Whoever Nagelsmann sends onto the pitch at St. Jakob-Park, Switzerland will provide a serious examination of his players' World Cup prospects.

Like Germany, Die Nati topped their qualifying group and have a number of Bundesliga-based names to call on, including Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and Freiburg midfielder Johan Manzambi, who has played a key role in his club's historic run to the 2025/26 UEFA Europa League quarter-finals.

Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin can also count on ex-Dortmund defender Manuel Akanji (currently on loan at Inter Milan from Manchester City) and Sunderland midfield general Granit Xhaka, who famously helped Bayer Leverkusen win a Bundesliga-DFB Cup double in 2023/24.

Follow build-up and LIVE match coverage below...

VS

Switzerland

Fri, 27.03 19:45

Germany

Friendly
International International St. Jakob-Park, Basel

New threads

Last week, Germany revealed their away kit for the summer's World Cup, which they will debut in Basel on Friday. The dark blue shirts are based on the team's traditional blue training tops.

© adidas

Stuttgart duo drafted in

Nmecha and Aleksandar Pavlović have both dropped out of the squad due to injury, opening the door for Stuttgart pair Angelo Stiller and Chris Führich. They have been important parts of the Swabians' impressive form this campaign.

© IMAGO/HMB Media/Claus

Familiar faces

There are eight Bundesliga players in the Swiss squad, including Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and Freiburg's Johan Manzambi. All in all, 17 of their 26-man squad have played in the German top flight at some point during their careers.

© DFL/Getty Images/Lukas Schulze

Switzerland form

The Swiss, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last 10, with their most recent defeat coming against Spain in the UEFA Nations League in November 2024. At UEFA Euro 2024, they reached the quarter-finals before losing on penalties to England, so they will be a tough proposition here.

© IMAGO/Mateusz Slodkowski

Recent form

Germany have won each of their past five games, all in qualification for the FIFA World Cup as they booked their place at next summer's tournament. That came after a run of just one win in six, though, so there is still some work to do in terms of consistency.

© IMAGO/Michael Taeger

Undav on fire

VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav has received his first call-up since last summer's UEFA Nations League finals after some scintillating form this term. Only Harry Kane has scored more than his 17 goals in the Bundesliga, while he has 23 goals in all competitions - more than any other player in this squad.

© IMAGO/Eduard Martin

Nmecha out

While in action for Borussia Dortmund against Hamburg at the weekend, Felix Nmecha suffered a ligament injury that will keep him out of action for several weeks, the Black-Yellows have confirmed. As such, he will be unavailable for Germany during this international break.

© Imago

The setting

This clash will be played at St. Jakob-Park in Basel. Germany have played there four times, winning twice, losing once and drawing once.

© IMAGO/Priscila Bütler / SPP

0:56

Watch: Kompany on Karl and Urbig call-ups

Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany discussed maiden call-ups for duo Jonas Urbig and Lennart Karl.

The full squad

Tale of the tape

These nations have a reach history of facing each other, having met on no fewer than 53 occasions. Germany have the clear upper hand, winning 35 of those encounters and losing just nine. They have, however, failed to win any of the last four, including a 1-1 draw in the group stage of UEFA Euro 2024.

© IMAGO/Jan Huebner

World Cup preparations

This is the first of four games Germany have lined up ahead of their opening game at the FIFA World Cup against Curaçao on June 14th. After this encounter with Switzerland, they will host Ghana on Monday 30 March, before encounters with Finland and the USA in the build-up to the tournament.

© IMAGO

Welcome!

Follow all of the build-up and live action from Germany's international friendly with Switzerland on Friday (kick-off: 8.45pm CET).

About the clubs

Hamburg

Volksparkstadion

Bayer Leverkusen

BayArena

Freiburg

Europa-Park Stadion

St. Pauli

Millerntor-Stadion

Bayern Munich

Allianz Arena

Eintracht Frankfurt

Deutsche Bank Park

Werder Bremen

Weserstadion

VfB Stuttgart

MHPArena

Wolfsburg

Volkswagen Arena

Hoffenheim

PreZero Arena

Augsburg

WWK ARENA

Cologne

RheinEnergieSTADION

Heidenheim

Voith-Arena

Borussia Dortmund

SIGNAL IDUNA PARK

Union Berlin

An der Alten Försterei

Mainz

MEWA ARENA

RB Leipzig

Red Bull Arena

Borussia Mönchengladbach

BORUSSIA-PARK