Ginter Reflects on Europa League Loss and World Cup Exclusion

WHO:

Yahoo Sports - Matthias Ginter, center-back for SC Freiburg, Julian Nagelsmann, Germany's national team coach.

WHAT:

Yahoo Sports - Ginter stated, "It was only with the opening match of the World Cup that I became really aware of it," reflecting on the impact of missing the tournament.

Yahoo Sports - Ginter described the 20th and 21st May 2026 as "among the worst days in his professional career."

Yahoo Sports - Ginter experienced a "double blow" by being excluded from the World Cup squad and losing the Europa League final.

Yahoo Sports - Ginter described the period as "the bitterest time in my career."

Yahoo Sports - Ginter was informed of his exclusion from the World Cup squad only 12 hours after SC Freiburg's defeat to Aston Villa in the Europa League final.

Yahoo Sports - Ginter played in the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, with Germany being eliminated in the group stage in 2018 and 2022.

WHERE:

Yahoo Sports - The Europa League final took place against Aston Villa.

WHEN:

Yahoo Sports - The dates of the Europa League final and the World Cup squad announcement were the 20th and 21st May 2026.

WHY:

Yahoo Sports - Ginter expressed disappointment over the lack of communication from Nagelsmann, stating, "I don't want to talk about the way it generally went down for three years (with Nagelsmann)."

Yahoo Sports - Ginter expressed disappointment over the lack of communication from Nagelsmann regarding his exclusion from the World Cup squad.

Yahoo Sports - Ginter hinted at previous issues with Nagelsmann over the past three years.

HOW:

Yahoo Sports - Ginter was informed of his exclusion from the World Cup squad on the day of the nomination, which he described as a lack of communication.

Yahoo Sports - Ginter was only informed of his exclusion on the day of the nomination, which he described as a lack of communication.

Ginter has opened up about the emotional toll of missing the World Cup, stating that the opening match made him fully aware of its impact, and he described May 20th and 21st, 2026, as some of the worst days of his professional career. He expressed disappointment over the lack of communication from coach Nagelsmann, saying, "I don't want to talk about the way it generally went down for three years." Ginter revealed that he learned of his exclusion from the World Cup squad on the very day of the nomination, highlighting the poor communication surrounding the decision.