Looking for another “stabilizer”.
After national coach Hansi Flick had to do without Joshua Kimmich (27) 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 Kimmich’s position, who was expecting his third child at home with his partner remained.
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 and increased his market value to 22 million euros in December. “Julian wasn’t there for a long time. We know what he can do, 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: “Apart from Jo Kimmich, we need an alternative.” Flick needs another player in the position of six who “could be a kind of stabilizer”. Weigl brings exactly these qualities with him – there is no more valuable classic “six” than him and Kimmich, the German professional with the highest market value.
Weigl played his last of five international matches in a 1-0 win against England in Dortmund five years ago, 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,” said Weigl after Flick had surprisingly nominated him.
The 24-man squad of the DFB against Israel and the Netherlands
No BVB professionals in the DFB team: Zorc shows understanding for Flick
Meanwhile, BVB sports director Michael Zorc understands that national coach Flick has not invited a single player from Borussia Dortmund. “The national coach communicated with us,” Zorc told the “WAZ”. “For one thing, those who are eligible are ill, or they are just coming out of injury breaks. Otherwise, the following is very clear: everyone is called upon to perform.”
Sebastian Kehl, head of the licensed player department and Zorc’s successor at BVB from the summer, ironically explained on Sunday that even in the upcoming international break, “they have a good training group. There are a lot of German national players there.” He also referred to the conversation with Flick and said: “Let’s just leave it as is.” BVB candidates or those who have been invited in the past include Mats Hummels, Emre Can and Mo Dahoud , Julian Brandt and Marco Reus.
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