By Oliver Trust

BERLIN, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) -- If further proof was needed the visit of German national coach Julian Nagelsmann told the story about the VfB Stuttgart's high fly.

For a good reason, the 36-year-old visited the national league surprise last Wednesday for the German Cup encounter against Borussia Dortmund.

Ahead of the team's league duel against table leaders Bayer Leverkusen this Sunday, the Swabian side has turned into a treasure trove for the German coach as several performers drew the attention of the former Bayern manager.

Stuttgart crushing the Black and Yellow Champions League participants 2-0 might have encouraged Nagelsmann to pick players on the road to the UEFA 2024 Euro tournament that not many thought about so far.

Defender Waldemar Anton is said to be on the list for the struggling 2024 World champions list for the friendlies in March against France and the Netherlands.

Winger Chris Fuhrich already made it into the German squad, and he called Turkish-rooted striker Deniz Undav to tell the on-loan forward from Brighton and Hove Albion he is on his list of potential candidates.

Undav not only scored eight league goals in ten games aside from two assists but has the option to join the Turkish national team due to holding both nationalities.

Nagelsmann's growing interest gives proof of third placed Stuttgart's increased significance in German football after the side managed to keep a top position after 13 rounds of matches.

Together with French striker Serhou Guirassy (16 goals in 11 games) Undav stands for one of European football's most successful attacking couple.

Anton in 2020 came from the second division side Hannover and made his breakthrough in Stuttgart turning into one of the best defenders in the first tier.

For fans, the 27-year-old has turned into a "working class hero" as he stands for a type of professional footballer who always leaves his heart on the pitch and is far from an artistic player heading for the limelight.

The rising star might like nobody else in the VfB squad stand for the Stuttgart way to provide chances for players below the radar of nationwide attention.

Nevertheless, Anton stands for what Nagelsmann is missing in the national team, determination, passion, and reliability.

Finally, goalkeeper Alexander Nubel, an on-loan force owning a contract at Bayern, seems a candidate for the national team after the long injury break due to a back operation forcing Barcelona keeper Marc-Andre Ter Stegen into a month-long break.

This Sunday Nagelsmann might again drop by in the Stuttgart arena or at least turn on his TV to witness the performance against the team of Spanish star coach Xabi Alonso.

While Stuttgart seems on his way to qualify for international competition the side is said to possibly be the first to beat Leverkusen. "I love their way of football," Alonso stated and called Stuttgart football "aggressive" coming along with a "convincing idea". The Spaniard said Stuttgart's style is similar "to ours" and spoke about a challenging competitor. Enditem

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