​Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter and Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann reflect on apparent end to Germany careersTwo German veterans left out of Jürgen Klopp’s enormous first Germany squad have now responded to their respective omissions. SC Freiburg defender Matthias Ginter and TSG Hoffenheim keeper Oliver Baumann both offered up comments about their respective national-team futures.The circumstances differ significantly. Ginter hasn’t represented Germany since June 2023 despite arguably playing some of the best football of his career over the past year. Baumann, by contrast, entered the summer as Germany’s established No. 1 before losing his place to the returning Manuel Neuer ahead of the 2026 World Cup.Both nevertheless appear to have reached similar conclusions following conversations with Klopp. The new Bundestrainer’s first squad emphasizes the future. Ginter and Baumann recognize that their ages now work against them as Klopp prepares a team capable of competing at the 2028 European Championship in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland.Ginter accepts Klopp’s decision despite strong formGinter’s omission comes despite the 32-year-old picking up exactly where he left off last season. The Freiburg defensive leader has already registered five scorer points in six competitive fixtures for his hometown club. The former Dortmund and Gladbach professional spent much of last spring mounting an increasingly compelling case for his first Germany call-up in nearly three years.After turning in a Man-of-the-Match performance during Freiburg’s Europa League defeat away at Genk, Ginter scored and assisted in the spectacular return-leg comeback. Ginter confirmed afterwards that he remained in contact with then-Bundestrainer Julian Nagelsmann and expressed disappointment that another international break had passed without a nomination.The case grew stronger still when German football legend Lothar Matthäus subsequently described Ginter’s performance against Celta Vigo as the “perfect game.” Freiburg teammates openly backed their defensive leader for a Germany return. It never arrived.Ginter later described the period surrounding Freiburg’s Europa League final defeat and his subsequent exclusion from Germany’s World Cup squad as the most heartbreaking 12 hours of his professional career. The 51-times-capped international declined to elaborate extensively on his dealings with Nagelsmann.“I don’t want to talk about the way things generally went over those three years,” Ginter told Kicker. “I had a very good and appreciative conversation with the [new] Bundestrainer. The performances are being noticed, but of course my age is simply the decisive issue now. I will be 34 at the time of the next tournament.“Of course you can still play good football at 34,” Ginter continued. “But – given the age structure and the many good younger players available to fill the position – it’s absolutely understandable to me. The 2026 Wor