The German national soccer team begins the international World Cup season with a test double pack. Before the duel against Israel on Saturday (8:45 p.m.), Thomas Müller from FC Bayern and Matthias Ginter from Borussia Mönchengladbach will answer journalists’ questions.
sport.de accompanies the press conference with the two national players 13:00 ‘O clock in the live blog.
+++ What does it take to win the World Cup? +++
Müller: What moments do we need? At every successful and every disastrous World Cup, it was important to be prepared for the difficult moments. This can lead to not playing the ball against the post, but into the goal. You need that determination. If it works, there is also talk of carelessness. We also need that little bit of luck. Also in 2014 we overcame difficult moments, like in the games against USA, Algeria, France or Argentina. In 2018 we didn’t have those moments on our side. It can’t be planned, but when a German team goes to a tournament, anything can happen in 90 minutes. We have to be prepared for that. This philosophy needs to be sharpened. We want to be active on the pitch and have our sights set on the world title.
+++ What is the status at Bayern? how long do you play +++
Müller: I have certain expectations of myself. As long as I can keep up at the top level and tip the scales, I want to be there. On the subject of the club, even if that’s not the topic at the moment: My contract currently runs until 2023, we’ll have to see. The club and the player are always in exchange, even when it was said that there was no such thing. But it’s always about how intense the contact is. I don’t want to chat too much, but everyone is experienced enough to deal with a situation like this. The respect for one another is always there. About the DFB: You always have to ask yourself whether the criteria fit together. What I don’t want is to play until everyone says enough is enough.
+++ What is your role? +++
Müller: There are new roles before every tournament. At my first World Cup, it was more about not attracting negative attention. I even managed to do it quite well and, on the contrary, successfully disrupted the opponent. It was different in 2010 and 2014, so of course I wanted to give something to other players. In 2014, we took care of the team, also with the other experienced players. In 2018 it was even more about it. Unfortunately, that was a football performance from us, none of us stood out.
Now my role is similar, although football has changed and the way I play has changed. I get along very well with the fast, straightforward players who have a lot of moves and joy in playing. My role as a center player has been clearly strengthened. In 2018 I played even more on the flank. I know the coach Hansi Flick, and of course Joachim Löw before that, very well and I know what is required.
+++ A goal is still missing to Uwe Seeler +++
Müller: I would like to score one more goal. Unfortunately, I didn’t experience Uwe Seeler’s active time. Of course, I’m familiar with his legendary goal with the back of his head. To be on the same level as these legends and to have had a similar career, that’s something you never dared to dream of as a child. But in the end I’ve been at a high level for a long time now, so I’m not afraid.
+++ How did the information evening on human rights go? +++
Müller: That was a visit from real experts who know their way around. As a player, you only ever get a snippet, and as a player I’ve been to host country Qatar many times. We were informed about facts and background information. There was nothing new about it, but it was objectified. By and large, it was about human rights violations that occur in every country, including Germany. But in Qatar there are still problems with human rights violations on issues such as women’s rights. We were informed about what has happened since the World Cup was awarded. We always try to go through the world with open eyes. We hope that the association or the organiser, FIFA, will improve the way human rights are implemented.
+++ How does the beginning of the World Cup year feel? +++
Müller: Basically, it’s a year in which you know as a player that a tournament is taking place. Normally, at the end of March, we would be close to the tournament. But that is now taking place at the end of November, which is a new situation. We last had this good autumn with seven wins and we want to take that with us. But that is also over and we have to prove it again. In between we have to play the Nations League, with top-class opponents. You want to present yourself well. We haven’t had these opponents in our World Cup qualifying group, but we’ll get there week after week. As soon as you play against a famous name, the focus increases. My head isn’t in November yet, but in the upcoming friendlies. We also want to look good against Holland. That affects every single player. As I prepare for a World Cup year like this, do I think about what I can do personally to be X hundred percent that day?
+++ Thomas Müller starts +++
Thomas Müller takes a seat on the podium. Let’s start with the press conference.
+++ Hansi Flick’s opinion on the discussion about a World Cup boycott +++
The upcoming World Cup in Qatar has been highly controversial ever since it was announced. “It can’t always be about the money. We recently had a World Cup in Russia, the Winter Olympics in Beijing, and the World Cup is coming up in Qatar in November – and there has always been a lot of criticism. That’s why I say: We have to think about it earlier decide in which country we hold sporting events and define even more binding criteria for this,” demanded national coach Hansi Flick on the fringes of the international matches.
However, Flick again rejected a boycott of the tournament. “It would not help the people of Qatar.”
+++ PK with Müller and Ginter is delayed +++
The press round with Thomas Müller and Matthias Ginter has not yet started. Nevertheless, it should start right away.
+++ Manuel Neuer calls world title as a goal +++
Goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer announced the goal of the world title at the press conference on Tuesday. Otherwise, the Bayern professional commented on his future. Here is all the information.
+++ Where is the game against Israel shown? +++
The national team’s international match against Israel will be broadcast live on free TV on Saturday from 8:45 p.m. The friendly game will be broadcast on ZDF. Commentator is Oliver Schmidt, Per Mertesacker is a co-commentator.
+++ Which players are still left for Flick? +++
Robin Koch (corona positive), Karim Adeyemi (muscle injury) and Serge Gnabry (flu infection) who were appointed to the squad had to cancel before the international double pack. The squad of the German national team to click through.
+++ Gnabry left, Brandt moves up +++
Before the upcoming international matches of the German national soccer team against Israel and the Netherlands (Tuesday, 8:45 p.m.), national coach Hansi Flick had to react again and reorganize his squad at short notice. Serge Gnabry from FC Bayern is out for the games. The attacker left the team hotel in Gravenbruch near Frankfurt “with slight symptoms of a flu infection”. All rapid corona tests had previously been negative.
Julian Brandt from Borussia Dortmund replaces Gnabry. The offensive player is expected during the day.
+++ Bayern veteran Müller before the 111th international match +++
A special game is on the agenda for Thomas Müller: if he plays against Israel, it will be his 111th international match for the senior national team. In the ranking of DFB record players, the Bayern veteran is already in sixth place. He could soon catch up with his former teammates Philipp Lahm (113) and Bastian Schweinsteiger (121).
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