Germany head coach Hansi Flick has appointed his 26-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and at first glance there are only a few surprises. In fact, the biggest surprises came here between the omissions from Mats Hummels and Marco. Reus will not be on the plane.
While Reus has struggled with an ankle injury in recent weeks, there is hope in his camp that he will have compatibility in time to be part of the team. Flick, however, is not convinced that the Dortmund star will have compatibility in time for the tournament.
“I’ve said how much I appreciate him as a footballer,” Flick said at the team’s announcement press conference, when asked about Reus. when you may have joined us. We made the resolution and told him so. It hurts us because we can actually use its quality.
Another marvel is the omission of Dortmund defender Hummels. Hummels has been in wonderful form in recent weeks and, with Antonio Rüdiger, would have had the chance to create a solid defensive line for Die Nationalmannschaft.
“Unsurprisingly, this was one of the biggest disappointments of my career,” Hummels said in a statement. “I will fold my hands for the team at the World Cup and use the time to react to such a party with hard work. “I have. “
Flick, meanwhile, under pressure that he still appreciates Hummels. “Mats is in wonderful form and in wonderful shape,” Flick said. more about the future. “
The inclusion of the 20-year-old is a bit surprising at first glance. But Flick will use this tournament a lot to prepare for Euro 2024, hosted in Germany. That would be why young defenders like Nico Schlotterbeck and Bella-Kotchap are part of the team, not Hummels.
Fit Werder striker Niclas FüllKrug will also travel to Qatar. (Photo via Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
Werder striker Niclas Füllkrug and 17-year-old Dortmund striker Youssoufa Moukoko are also on the plane to Qatar. While both deserve to be there in their form recently, one wonders if they would have been part of the team if Timo Werner (Leipzig) and Lukas Nmecha (Wolfsburg) would have been compatible with Qatar.
“Niclas has ten goals,” Flick said. He’s doing very well. If you take a look at Bremen, they substituted matches at the last minute. Niclas gives us more confidence and everything we don’t have’ He can identify well with any role.
The consultation of the World Cup striker is who will occupy the position of nine of this selection. Or put another way, who will be the German Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting?The Bayern striker has been in shape lately and is one of the main reasons for Rekordmeister’s good fortune in the Bundesliga and Champions League in recent weeks.
Unfortunately for Flick, Choupo-Moting represents Cameroon more than his home Germany, for which he played in the youth category. Therefore, Flick will look for a player who can surround Bayern’s fit forwards, a finisher capable of executing the attacks presented. through Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sané.
Füllkrug and Moukoko may evolve in this role. Another option is Kai Havertz. The Chelsea striker is a kind of wonderful moment and, surrounded by Bayern players, will be more productive than he is for the Blues in the Premier League as this club becomes a graveyard of strikers.
A special role will also go to Mario Götze. Götze, 30, is nevertheless aware of the future he had in his teens and early twenties. The Frankfurt midfielder is in top form and has been world-class in the Champions League.
Götze has the rare ability to place the best pass in the best moments and, according to Wyscout, leads the Bundesliga with 24 wise passes played this season. Key pass at the right time that can make the difference between victory and defeat.
“He’s a brilliant footballer who has flashes of inspiration,” Flick said. “Mario has played at an incredibly high point in recent weeks. He had upheavals at first, but now he’s in wonderful shape. “The Frankfurt star will give Flick intensity either in attack or in midfield, where his performance is limited.
For Götze, this World Cup may just be a kind of redemption. The goalscorer of Germany’s World Cup victory is back in the squad for the first time since 2017 and has highlighted the charge that accompanied that goal he scored against Argentina in 2014. Now, 8 years later, Götze has the coming of age to play an important role, and wouldn’t it be an incredible story if he played an important role for Germany in a successful World Cup?
Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing podcast and the US Regional Manager. UU. de Transfermarkt. He has also been in The Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA and several other media outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth