Germany's Nübel praises grandmother: Played a lot of football with me

VfB Stuttgart goalkeeper Alexander Nübel praised his grandmother for helping him start his football career ahead of his debut for the Germany national team on Friday against Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Nations League.

"One of my grandmothers played a lot of football with me, that was unique. In my family, football was not very present," he said.

The now 92-year-old lived right next door and "played a lot of football in the garden. That was very cool."

Nübel will stand between the posts on Friday after Marc-Andre ter Stegen suffered a serious knee injury playing with his Barcelona team.

Ter Stegen was named Germany's number one by coach Julian Nagelsmann after long-serving keeper Manuel Neuer retired from the national team following this summer's Euro 2024.

For the other Nations League match against the Netherlands on Monday, Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann will be in the starting line-up, also making his Germany debut.