Ultimately aiming to claim a first UEFA Nations League title, Germany will kick off their quarter-final clash with old foes Italy on Thursday.

Unbeaten on their way to topping League A Group 3, the Germans overcame several international retirements after the heartbreak of Euro 2024, but this month's gathering takes place without a number of important players.

Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann is not only missing key creators Kai Havertz and Florian Wirtz through injury, but Benjamin Henrichs, Felix Nmecha, Aleksandar Pavlovic and Barcelona goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen are also sidelined.

In their absence, Leon Goretzka, Karim Adeyemi and Nadiem Amiri have all been recalled, while Inter Milan defender Yann Bisseck could feature in familiar surroundings at San Siro, having been handed his first senior call-up.

Antonio Rudiger, Jonathan Tah and Nico Schlotterbeck are all ahead of him in the pecking order, but Bisseck is one of only two uncapped players in Nagelsmann's latest squad, along with Manchester City's Stefan Ortega.

The latter will most likely lose out to Oliver Baumann or Alexander Nubel in the race to replace Ter Stegen, while there is plenty of competition for four spots up front.

Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav joins Wirtz as one of Germany's three-goal top scorers in this Nations League campaign; his clubmate Jamie Leweling, Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Tim Kleindienst and Adeyemi are also vying for selection.

Germany possible starting lineup: Baumann; Kimmich, Rudiger, Schlotterbeck, Mittelstadt; Andrich, Gross; Sane, Musiala, Adeyemi; Kleindienst

> Click here to see how Italy could line up for this UEFA Nations League contest

Written by
Jonathan O'Shea