Germany have called RB Leipzig defender Ridle Baku into their squad for the final two UEFA Nations League group fixtures after Borussia Dortmund centre-back Waldemar Anton withdrew with muscular problems. The German Football Association (DFB) announced the change on Sunday, 8 November 2026, providing a confirmed update rather than speculation about the national team’s selection plans.
What the DFB has confirmed
The DFB says national-team coach Jürgen Klopp has selected Baku as Anton’s replacement. Anton, who had been named in the 24-man squad announced on Thursday, will not travel because of muscular issues. The federation has not given a precise recovery timetable, so it would be premature to predict when he will return for Dortmund. The immediate certainty is that he is unavailable for this international window. Baku is due to join his teammates at the national-team base in Herzogenaurach on Monday, where preparations will begin for two fixtures that could determine Germany’s Nations League prospects.
Who is Ridle Baku?
The 28-year-old RB Leipzig player offers experience in wide defensive areas and has previously represented Germany eight times at senior level, according to the federation. His arrival is a practical response to a late withdrawal: Germany need sufficient coverage on the right as well as across the back line, particularly with two competitive games close together. This is a squad replacement, not evidence that Baku has been promised a starting position. Selection decisions will depend on training, the tactical plan and the fitness of the other available defenders.
How Anton’s absence changes the defensive options
Anton had been selected as a central defender, and losing him affects more than one individual position. Reporting by German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung indicates that Stuttgart youngster Finn Jeltsch, previously considered cover for right-back Philipp Treu, is now expected to provide additional centre-back depth, while Baku becomes another option on the right. That reshuffle helps explain why Klopp has chosen a versatile defender rather than simply selecting another specialist centre-half. Nevertheless, the final match-day line-ups remain unconfirmed and should not be treated as settled.
When Germany play Serbia and the Netherlands
Germany travel to Belgrade to face Serbia on Friday, 13 November, with kick-off scheduled for 20:45 local German time, before hosting the Netherlands in Berlin on Monday, 16 November, also at 20:45 German time. These dates and venues were included in the DFB announcement. The matches conclude the group phase, meaning there is limited time to recover from setbacks or adjust the standings. Baku’s inclusion gives the coaching staff an extra option as they prepare for different opponents in quick succession.
Why the Nations League stakes matter
Germany enter the final stretch three points behind the Netherlands and Greece in their group, according to contemporaneous German reporting. The top two positions lead to the quarter-finals, while finishing third carries the prospect of relegation play-offs and fourth would mean direct relegation. Those possibilities underline why squad depth matters even when a replacement call-up might otherwise seem routine. The international break is not simply an opportunity to experiment: Germany have a tangible competitive objective and two matches left to influence it.
What happens next
The first significant next step is Monday’s gathering in Herzogenaurach. Training availability and any subsequent DFB team updates will provide a clearer picture of how Baku fits into Klopp’s plans. For Anton, the immediate focus will be recovery, with any club return dependent on further medical assessment rather than an assumed date. The verified development today is the personnel switch; suggestions about a guaranteed starting role, a lengthy absence or a change of formation would go beyond the evidence currently available.
Sources and verification
The primary source is the German Football Association’s official squad update dated 8 November 2026. The replacement and defensive implications are also reported by Süddeutsche Zeitung. Both sources distinguish the confirmed call-up from the still-undecided starting XI.