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PONTIANAK – The excitement surrounding the 2026 World Cup has reached every corner of the Equator Land, including the Deputy Governor of West Kalimantan.

Deputy Governor Krisantus Kurniawan openly admitted that he is an avid football fan.

For this edition of the World Cup, Krisantus confidently predicted that the German national team would emerge as world champions.

Speaking during his daily activities, the former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) revealed that Die Mannschaft — the nickname for the German national team — has long been his favourite team on the international stage.

“I’ve always admired Germany’s playing style, known for its discipline, tactical precision, and consistency in developing new generations of players,” said Krisantus Kurniawan during an interview at the West Kalimantan Governor’s Office on Jalan Jenderal Ahmad Yani, Pontianak City, Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Comment on Indonesian Football: Indonesia Should Compete with the Netherlands

As a person who enjoys watching the beautiful game, Krisantus encouraged all football enthusiasts in West Kalimantan to celebrate the 2026 World Cup in a positive spirit, whether by hosting community watch parties or actively participating in local football matches.

However, amid the global excitement of the tournament in the Americas, the Deputy Governor took a moment to reflect and offer constructive criticism on the future of Indonesian football.

He believes that Indonesia's national team, Garuda, should have achieved far greater success given the country’s massive population.

“The Netherlands has a much smaller population than ours, yet they have consistently competed at the world level and even reached the World Cup finals several times. Meanwhile, Indonesia has abundant human resources — more than 270 million people. Logically, we should be able to produce world-class young talents,” he stated diplomatically.

Official Germany National Team Squad for the 2026 World Cup

The Deputy Governor’s confidence in Germany appears well-founded. Under the leadership of young tactician Julian Nagelsmann, Germany arrives with a full-strength squad blending the championship mentality of senior players with the determination of Europe’s top young talents.

Here is the official list of German national team players selected by Julian Nagelsmann:

Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Monaco).

Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Frankfurt), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle).

Midfielders: Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Pascal Gross (Brighton), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich – Captain), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Alexander Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool).

Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Denis Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle).

Julian Nagelsmann Profile: The Strategic Mind Behind Der Panzer

Germany’s tactical sharpness on the pitch cannot be separated from the impressive credentials of their head coach.

Full Name: Julian Nagelsmann

Date of Birth: 23 July 1987 (Age 38)

Playing Career: Retired early at 20 due to a severe knee injury while playing as a central defender.

Coaching Record:

Hoffenheim (2016–2019): Set a record as the youngest coach in Bundesliga history and successfully led the team to qualify for the Champions League.

RB Leipzig (2019–2021): Made a breakthrough in Europe by reaching the 2020 UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

Bayern Munich (2021–2023): Delivered the Bundesliga championship in the 2022 season.

Germany National Team (2023–Present): Appointed as head coach to replace Hansi Flick.

Germany National Team Group E Match Schedule (WIB)

For Germany’s loyal supporters in West Kalimantan, here is the complete Group E match schedule to mark on your calendar:

Germany vs Curaçao
Monday, 15 June 2026 | 00:00 WIB | Venue: NRG Stadium, Houston

Germany vs Ivory Coast
Sunday, 21 June 2026 | 03:00 WIB | Venue: BMO Field, Toronto

Ecuador vs Germany
Friday, 26 June 2026 | 03:00 WIB | Venue: MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford

Can Julian Nagelsmann’s tactical formula fulfil the West Kalimantan Deputy Governor’s prediction and bring the golden trophy back to Berlin? We will soon find out on the green field.

2026 World Cup Complete Schedule

2026 World Cup Results

2026 World Cup Standings