Germany's World Cup centre-back duo brushes off AI songs and nicknames ahead of Curaçao opener

The AI song phenomenon

As the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada approaches, a flood of songs about German national team players has appeared online, many of them generated by artificial intelligence. The content of some of these tracks has been described as questionable, marking a departure from the DFB's long-standing musical traditions. Defender Jonathan Tah addressed the topic before Germany's opening match against Curaçao, saying he prefers music made by real people. "I like it when it's really real musicians and real people," Tah said.

I like it when it's really real musicians and real people.

His defensive partner Nico Schlotterbeck acknowledged the trend with a more measured response. "I've noticed it. I think some are good, some not so good," the Borussia Dortmund player said. Schlotterbeck added that no song within the DFB squad has yet emerged as a potential tournament hit.

I've noticed it. I think some are good, some not so good.

A tradition of player recordings

The current AI-generated tracks stand in contrast to decades of DFB history in which players themselves entered the recording studio. Before the 1978 World Cup, Udo Jürgens recorded "Buenos Dias Argentina" with the national team, a song that climbed the charts. Ahead of the 1990 triumph in Italy, team manager Franz Beckenbauer and captain Lothar Matthäus again joined Jürgens for "Wir sind schon auf dem Brenner." In 1994, when the World Cup was also held in the United States, German players sang "Far Away in America" with the Village People. Schlotterbeck said he is not responsible for music selection in the DFB dressing room but trusts his teammates' taste.

I like to listen along, so I'm just happy when good music is playing. And I think the guys always manage that quite well.

The centre-back partnership takes shape

Tah and Schlotterbeck are set to form Germany's central defensive pairing at this tournament, a role both have embraced with confidence. Speaking at a press conference at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, Schlotterbeck described their partnership in direct terms. "We are very well-rehearsed," he said, adding that he and Tah are a "top centre-back duo." When laughter rippled through the room, Schlotterbeck insisted he was being completely serious. "I hear a lot of laughter in the room, but I mean it completely seriously," he said.

I hear a lot of laughter in the room, but I mean it completely seriously.

Tah praised Schlotterbeck's ability on the ball, saying there are few defenders in Europe operating at his level. Schlotterbeck returned the compliment by calling Tah an incredibly good defender when it comes to protecting the goal. The pairing has drawn comparisons to the World Cup-winning duo of Mats Hummels and Jérôme Boateng, who also represented Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund respectively.

The nickname that broke the press conference

A lighter moment came when Schlotterbeck dissolved into laughter over a new, unintended nickname for his teammate. Tah was introduced as "Tschonnässn" Tah, a moniker that left Schlotterbeck slapping the table and burying his head in his arms. Tah sat alongside him with a pained smile, apparently aware he would not escape the label. The exchange underscored the genuine friendship between the two defenders, who describe themselves as an "incredibly good duo" with no need to hide from anyone. Tah, the more stoic presence, called Schlotterbeck a "special character, very extroverted, always ready with a joke."

But it's already funny how much attention is paid to it from the outside. But we prefer to focus on the essentials.

Looking ahead to Curaçao

Germany opens its World Cup campaign on Sunday against Curaçao, a match that should provide a gentle introduction for the defensive pair. With Tah at 30 and Schlotterbeck at 26, the two are expected to function more as attacking defenders than pure stoppers, given the likely balance of play. The search for "defensive monsters" that occupied coach Julian Nagelsmann in late 2023 appears to have concluded. Even Real Madrid regular Antonio Rüdiger has been moved to a secondary role as Tah and Schlotterbeck have cemented their places through complementary skill sets.

Tah summed up the squad's attitude toward the external noise around AI songs and nicknames: the focus remains on football. "But it's already funny how much attention is paid to it from the outside," he said. "But we prefer to focus on the essentials."