German volleyball player and his new coach Michael Winiarski will have to do without star player Georg Grozer this summer.

Apart from the Nations League starting next week for the German team, the 37-year-old will also miss the World Cup in Poland and Slovenia starting in late August. “We decided together that he would sit outside this summer and be fine,” Winiarski told the German press agency. “We all know how good George is, but he’s not even a young player anymore.” All we knew by now was that Groser had missed out on the Nations League.

Viniarski said the 37-year-old wants to focus on regeneration this summer. “But next year he will be ready for the national team again.” The common goal is to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Viniarski sees the game this summer without Grozer as an opportunity for younger players. “This is a good opportunity for Linus Webber to play all summer,” said the 38-year-old Pole.

The German team will play host Canada in Ottawa next Tuesday (local time) to start the Nations League. In the Nations League, the world’s top 16 teams for men and women play against each other at three venues over six weeks. After twelve games per team, the best of eight advance to the final round. Nations League games are important to the world ranking. After Ottawa, German men play in Quezon City (Philippines) and Osaka (Japan).