Neu-Isenburg (dpa) – After national soccer coach Hansi Flick had to do without Bayern regular Joshua Kimmich at the start of the World Cup year, DFB returnee Julian Weigl was even more in focus.
The 26-year-old midfielder from Benfica Lisbon could celebrate his international comeback on Saturday (8.45 p.m. / ZDF) in the friendly against Israel in Sinsheim after five years – and that in the position of Kimmich (27), who was expecting his third child initially stayed at home with his partner.
At the first course in 2022, Flick wants to get a personal impression of the former Dortmund player Weigl, who is a top performer at Benfica. “Julian wasn’t there for a long time. We know what he’s capable of, but we also want to see him live,” said Flick. He is looking for a backup for Kimmich for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year: “In addition to Jo Kimmich, we need an alternative.” He needs another player in the position of six who “could be a kind of stabilizer”. Weigl brings exactly these qualities with him.
Weigl played his last of five international matches exactly five years ago in a 1-0 win against England in Dortmund, when he was still playing for BVB in the Bundesliga. Also interesting: Weigl made his debut together with Kimmich on May 29, 2016 in Augsburg in the European Championship test match against Slovakia (1: 3) in the DFB team. Now he could replace Munich in the games against Israel and three days later against the Netherlands. “Of course, the World Cup is a big dream,” Weigl said after Flick surprisingly nominated him.