Leeds United midfielder Anton Stach remains determined to show he deserves a place in Germany’s World Cup squad by performing at his best in the Premier League.
Anton Stach has enjoyed a topsy-turvy start to life at Leeds, as he looked to be one of the signings of the season in his first few appearances.
However, Leeds boss Daniel Farke was forced to drop Stach after he suffered two injuries in short succession, which saw him relegated to the bench.
With Leeds preparing for a difficult trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League fixture, Stach will be hoping to show Farke that he is fit enough to regain his place in the Leeds starting line-up.
With the World Cup in the United States on the horizon, Stach knows the best way to do that is to produce his best form in a Leeds United shirt this season.
Anton Stach in action during Leeds United v Everton - Premier League
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Anton Stach knows Leeds United hold the key to World Cup hopes
Speaking to German publication Kicker, Stach admitted that he still retains hope of forcing his way into contention for the 2026 World Cup.
Stach recently admitted he had not heard from German coach Julian Nagelsmann in some time. However, he believes that he could cap a dream year by keeping Leeds in the top flight and earning a World Cup call.
Asked if playing well for Leeds can help him achieve his World Cup dream, Stach said: “I really hope so, because the Premier League is a fantastic league. You have very, very good opponents. If you prove yourself here and have a good season, that also generates attention.
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“I’ve mentioned before that returning to the national team is a big goal of mine, as is the 2026 World Cup. Ultimately, you simply have to perform very, very well and consistently on an individual level.
He added, “Staying in the league is definitely the top priority. If I personally play a lot of good games, gain experience, and continue to develop my game, and also get back into contention for the national team.
Before concluding, “It would be an outstanding year if I even got to go to the World Cup at the end.”
Anton Stach in action for Leeds United during a Premier League clash against Tottenham
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Anton Stach will need to rediscover his best form for Germany call-up
Although Stach started the season in red-hot form, equalling Eden Hazard for the number of chances he created in his first four games, his productivity has dropped off since then.
According to the data from FBRef, Stach made 20 shot-creating actions in his first four Premier League games, culminating in Leeds’ agonising defeat against Fulham.
However, since then, Stach has made just eight shot-creating actions in five appearances, as his influence on Farke’s side began to wane.
Opponent Minutes Player Shot-Creating Actions
Everton 90 10
Arsenal 90 3
Newcastle 90 4
Fulham 90 3
Wolves 90 2
Bournemouth 90 0
Tottenham 66 3
Burnley 72 0
Brighton 31 3
One cause for optimism for Stach is that he made three shot-creating actions in his 30-minute cameo in the defeat against Brighton, his most per minute since the opening game of the season.
Stach will need to be at his absolute best to break into the Germany squad for the World Cup. His short display against Brighton is a sign that he can still do that if he is back to full fitness.