National coach Julian Nagelsmann is without Leon Goretzka – Pavlovic's candidacy is not the reason

“Even if it was written all over it, the decision was not between Aleks (Pavlovic, ed.) and Leon (Goretzka, ed.),” the former Bayern coach said at the team's nomination press conference.

In the national team's upcoming test matches in France (March 23) and against the Netherlands (March 26), Nagelsmann continued that his goal is to “find the right players for different roles.”

“At the moment I see two players in the lead in terms of the top eleven players,” he added, referring to Goretzka’s role.

There has always been an oversupply of senior players in the national team's midfield.

Most likely option: Kroos plays in the eighth position for Goretzka, and Ilkay Gundogan moves to the tenth position.

Pascal Gross of Brighton & Hove Albion, Robert Andrich of leaders Leverkusen and youngster Pavlovic are now available for Nagelsmann as reserves for the upcoming campaign.

Nagelsmann revealed details about Goretzka's rejection: “Of course he was frustrated, sad and disappointed. If you have ever coached a player like that at the club, it is not a pleasant conversation.”

However, the Bochum native does not have to write off the tournament in his country yet. “The same applies to Leon as it does to anyone else: I told him that the door is not closed,” the national coach said.

He also opined that the player's recent square-to-square matches were “more stable again”.

So it is likely that with the recent strong surge of the season, Goretzka could still force his way into the national coach's roster – and thus into the squad for domestic European tournaments.