Hansi Flick will have to do without a left-back at the upcoming World Cup that he would actually have liked to take with him to Qatar: Jonas Hector from 1. FC Köln. The defender, who resigned from the DFB team a good two years ago, has canceled the national coach.
In a week – on November 10th – the national coach will nominate his squad for the World Cup in Qatar. Then it’s about who flies to Muscat on November 14th. Two days later, the team will do their World Cup dress rehearsal there against Oman before heading to Qatar. At the latest then it will no longer be about 26 names – but about eleven.
As “Sky” reports, however, one player that Flick would have liked to have on board will not be one of the eleven or the 26 names: Jonas Hector.
Because the national coach has major problems, especially in the left-back position, Flick would have liked to take the veteran from 1. FC Köln with him. But all attempts to convince the 32-year-old 2017 Confederations Cup winner failed.
Hector is said to have been flattered by the 57-year-old’s request, but the long-time Cologne professional, whose last international match was almost exactly three years ago, refused to return to the DFB team. On November 19, 2019 he was last on the field for the German national team. Hector scored two goals in the 6-1 thrashing of Northern Ireland. In October 2020, Hector then resigned from the DFB team for personal reasons.
Hector’s club coach Steffen Baumgart has since confirmed that talks have taken place. “I talked to both of them about it,” said Baumgart: “But that’s a personal decision that Jonas made alone, he doesn’t need any help. We should accept it.”
1. FC Köln: Hector’s decision not yet made
For Flick, Hector’s cancellation means that he will probably go to the World Cup with the currently weakening Robin Gosens (at Inter Milan since the beginning of the year) and David Raum (who switched from TSG Hoffenheim to RB Leipzig in the summer). While the duo has its strengths in the offensive movement, both Gosens, who is usually only a reservist at Inter, and Raum on the defensive were not always solid.
Flick Christian Günter from SC Freiburg could nominate another alternative. Luca Netz from Borussia Mönchengladbach is also a possible option.
How things will continue for Hector after the season is open. The left-back’s contract with 1. FC Köln expires. According to the TV station, the 32-year-old has not yet made a decision about his future. It is possible that the defender hangs up his football boots.