SC Freiburg defender Matthias Ginter has openly discussed the disappointment of not being included in Germany’s World Cup squad. Julian Nagelsmann communicated this decision to him just hours after Freiburg’s defeat in the Europa League final. The 32-year-old had concluded last season by showcasing some of his best performances.

Ginter scored five goals and provided five assists during the Rückrunde, helping Freiburg reach an impressive milestone in their historic Europa League campaign, which ultimately ended with a 3-0 loss to Aston Villa in Istanbul. Only about twelve hours later, Nagelsmann informed Ginter that he would not be among those traveling to the World Cup.

“It was one big disappointment,” Ginter told Kicker, describing how the combination of the lost final and his omission from the squad marked one of the toughest times in his career.

The timing made it difficult for Ginter to process either setback. Following his return from Istanbul, he faced responsibilities related to his club, supporter events, and family obligations. It wasn’t until the World Cup commenced that he fully realized the gravity of watching from home. This marked the first World Cup since 2010 that Ginter experienced purely as a spectator.

Ginter’s Omission Comes Despite Strong Form

The disappointment comes as no surprise given the high level of performance Ginter demonstrated leading up to Nagelsmann’s decision. He played a pivotal role for Freiburg during the spring, just after reaching his 400th Bundesliga appearance. His performances in Europe stood out significantly.

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Get German Football News recognized Ginter as Man of the Match for his impressive defensive performance in the first leg of Freiburg’s Europa League tie against Genk, where he contested 17 direct duels and consistently worked to push his struggling team forwards. A week later, he made a huge impact in the return leg, scoring the opening goal and assisting Igor Matanović as Freiburg triumphed 5-1 over Genk.

GGFN documented both this comeback and Ginter’s aspirations of returning to the national team.

At the time, Ginter confirmed he was still in contact with the Bundestrainer and expressed disappointment over the omission, but Nagelsmann indicated that decisions were not final and that Ginter could still hold onto hope for his World Cup candidacy.

Matthäus Supports Ginter for National Team Recall

Ginter’s case grew stronger with each performance. After a strong showing in the Europa League against Celta Vigo, German football icon Lothar Matthäus called Ginter’s display “the perfect game.” GGFN evaluated Ginter’s increasingly persuasive argument for a Germany recall.

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Ginter Navigates the Later Stages of His Career

Now, Ginter acknowledges that another chance to return to international duty seems increasingly unlikely. His last appearance for Germany occurred three years ago, and he recognizes that his age changes the dynamics of the situation as he approaches 34 by the time the next major tournament unfolds.

He views this summer as likely “the last realistic opportunity” for a meaningful return to the national team, although he sees no reason to officially announce his retirement from international duty after such an extended absence. Ginter can reflect on nine years with the senior German national team, over 50 caps, two international titles, and an Olympic medal.

Despite the lingering disappointment, Ginter maintains a competitive spirit. He expresses a desire to make one final push rather than simply closing that chapter. However, with national team pressures lifted, he experiences an unexpected sense of freedom.

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Throughout his career, Ginter had split his focus between club and international commitments, but this season he feels “very, very free” as he gears up for a new campaign.

Ginter Remains Eager to Improve at 32

This newfound freedom does not equate to dwindling ambition. With over 500 professional appearances under his belt, Ginter trusts that his experience will help compensate for any physical limitations. He even asserts that he aims to be a superior player at 32 than he was at 26.

His focus now revolves around contributing to Freiburg’s impressive trajectory following the disappointment in Istanbul. While the national-team setback may still resonate, Ginter’s objective for the upcoming season is straightforward: focus on playing football, continue performing, and see where it leads.

GGFN | Peter Weis

SC Freiburg defender Matthias Ginter has spoken candidly about the disappointment of missing Germany’s World Cup squad, revealing that Julian Nagelsmann informed him of the decision only hours after Freiburg lost the Europa League final. The 32-year-old entered the closing stages of last season producing arguably some of the best football of his career.

Ginter registered five goals and five assists during the Rückrunde and helped Freiburg embark upon an historic Europa League campaign that ultimately ended with a 3-0 final defeat to Aston Villa in Istanbul. Approximately twelve hours later came another setback. Nagelsmann informed Ginter that he would not be traveling to the World Cup.

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“It was one big disappointment,” Ginter told Kicker, explaining that the combination of the lost final and Germany omission represented one of the bitterest periods of his career.

The timing rendered processing either setback particularly difficult. Ginter still had club obligations, supporter events and family responsibilities after returning from Istanbul. Only when the World Cup actually began did the reality of watching from home fully sink in. It marked the first World Cup since 2010 that Ginter had followed purely as a spectator.

Ginter’s omission came despite outstanding Freiburg form

The disappointment was understandable given the strength of Ginter’s performances during the months preceding Nagelsmann’s decision. Ginter emerged as one of Freiburg’s most influential players during the spring, shortly after making his 400th Bundesliga appearance. His European performances were particularly striking.

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Get German Football News named Ginter Man of the Match despite Freiburg’s 1-0 Europa League defeat away at Genk after an imposing defensive display in which the veteran contested 17 direct duels and continually attempted to drive his struggling team forward.One week later, Ginter helped completely reverse the tie.

The centre-back opened the scoring and assisted Igor Matanović as Freiburg demolished Genk 5-1 in the return leg. GGFN subsequently documented both the comeback and Ginter’s growing hopes of forcing his way back into Nagelsmann’s national team

At that stage, Ginter confirmed that he remained in contact with the Bundestrainer and admitted being disappointed about another omission. Nagelsmann nevertheless indicated that nothing had been completely decided. Ginter could therefore still reasonably believe his World Cup prospects remained alive.

Matthäus backed Ginter for Germany recall

His case only strengthened. Following another commanding Europa League performance against Celta Vigo in April, German football legend Lothar Matthäus described Ginter’s display as the “perfect game”. GGFN examined the increasingly compelling case for a Germany recall after a performance in which Ginter dominated defensively, repeatedly progressed possession and even supplied an additional attacking presence when Freiburg required one.

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How is Ginter dealing with the twilight of his career?

Ginter now acknowledges that another international comeback has become increasingly unlikely. His most recent Germany appearance came three years ago, and he accepts that his age inevitably changes the calculation. By the time another major tournament arrives, the veteran Freiburg defender will be 34.

Ginter consequently described this summer as probably “the last realistic opportunity” for a proper national-team return. He nevertheless sees little point in formally announcing an international retirement after such a long absence. The Freiburg defender can instead look back upon nine years around the senior German national team, more than 50 caps, two international titles and an Olympic medal.

There remains, however, a trace of competitive instinct. Ginter admitted that his natural inclination remains to attempt one final push rather than simply declare the chapter closed. At the same time, the absence of constant national-team considerations has produced an unexpected sense of freedom.

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For virtually Ginter’s entire professional career, every season involved parallel objectives at club and international level. Selection, tournaments and Germany commitments always occupied part of his thinking. That pressure has now largely disappeared. Ginter described himself as feeling “very, very free” ahead of the new season.

Ginter believes he can still improve at 32

That should not be confused with declining ambition. After more than 500 professional appearances, Ginter believes experience allows him to compensate for physical qualities that were never the defining features of his game. Ginter even insists that his personal expectation is to be a better footballer at 32 than he was at 26.

His next objective is therefore not defined by Germany selection. Instead, it concerns extending Freiburg’s extraordinary recent trajectory after the pain of Istanbul. The national-team disappointment may still linger, particularly given how close Ginter appeared to forcing his way back into the picture.

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But after spending years chasing parallel ambitions for Freiburg and Germany, the veteran defender enters the coming campaign with an unusually uncomplicated task. Play football, continue performing at the level that almost earned him a remarkable international comeback, and see where it leads.

GGFN | Peter Weis