In a DFB team that is currently very poor in bright spots, Malick Thiaw from AC Milan is the positive appearance. He should start again in the test against Colombia.
For Hansi Flick, the case is clear: “Malick will definitely play“, announced the national coach after the final training session on the DFB campus in Frankfurt/Main. Malick’s last name is Thiaw, he plays as a defender at AC Milan and is one of the few bright spots in the German national team, which is currently very poor in bright spots.
Last Friday (July 16, 2023) in the 0-1 draw against Poland, the native of Gelsenkirchen celebrated his successful debut. And also on Tuesday Thiaw – spoken: Ciao, as the extremely Italy-affine Rudi Völler explained again on Sunday – against Colombia (Tuesday, 8.45 p.m. in the audio live report) in the back three will be used.
Thiaw as an argument for Flick’s whereabouts
The DFB sports director was not only pleased with the name, which reminds one of balmy summer nights and riding a moped without a helmet, but also with the performance of the 21-year-old. “The discovery“was Thiaw, so Völler. And he wasn’t alone: ”He played very solidly and very maturely“said Flick.
Along with Ilkay Gündogan, Thiaw is something like the personified hope of the DFB-Elf for the friendly against Schalke – and of Hansi Flick personally. Those responsible countered the emerging rumors of a possible replacement of the national coach with reference to the defender’s deployment, among other things. Without the national coach’s harshly criticized willingness to experiment, the “wonderful footballers” Thiaw remained hidden from the general public, argued Völler.
Important role from the start in Milan
Where does this amazing maturity come from at such a young age? The key, explained the Düsseldorf-born son of a Senegalese goalkeeper and an athlete from Finland, was his move from Schalke to AC Milan last summer. “I’m incredibly grateful to Milan for the development and for giving me the chance. I didn’t expect to play there straight away because I came to the Italian champions from Schalke. But I’m very happy with the development“, he said in Warsaw in the stadium catacombs.
And the development is far from over. He already feels equally comfortable in a back three or four. “I adapt“He said. He only regretted that the U21 European champion of 2021 would be absent from Wednesday because of his promotion to the Junior European Championships.”I keep my fingers crossed for the guyssaid Thiaw.We have a top team and I’m sure they will do very well.” Even without the ray of hope from Warsaw.