The reunion between Hansi Flick and Niko Kovac was cordial. The national coach laughed and hugged his former boss at Bayern Munich. But Flick’s visit to the VfL Wolfsburg training camp in Seefeld was not intended to refresh the brief time spent together with the German record champions. Four months before the start of the World Cup, Flick leaves nothing to chance and gets an idea of his national players after the summer break in the training camps of the Bundesliga clubs.
“I expect everyone who wants to be in the squad to be in top form. We don’t have time to improve that,” said the 57-year-old, referring to the unusual date of the desert tournament in Qatar (November 21 to November 18). December). After the 15th matchday of the Bundesliga (November 11th to 13th), the DFB selection is planning a short training camp including a friendly in Dubai. On November 23rd, the hunt for the fifth star begins against Japan in the Khalifa International Stadium.
Therefore, Flick does not tolerate any negligence and is heating up the competition again. Even the Wolfsburg veteran Max Kruse (34) gave him hope during his flying visit to Tyrol. He “doesn’t close the door for anyone,” emphasized Flick. The performance in the club is “the ticket that you can be part of the national team”. This also applies “to Max Kruse”.
The increase in the World Cup squad from 23 to 26 players by the world association FIFA gives Flick more opportunities. That’s why he takes a very close look before the start of the season. Last Friday he stopped by at Borussia Mönchengladbach in Rottach-Egern am Tegernsee. “I’ll visit a few more teams,” announced the former Bayern coach.
time is running out
There hasn’t been a summer tour like this under his predecessor Joachim Löw in recent years. But Flick knows that time is running out: In September he is preparing his team in the new DFB campus in Frankfurt/Main for the final Nations League duels with Hungary in Leipzig (23rd) and England in London (26th). . In this course he had to “tweak one or the other screw” again.
His stars are then already in the full load. In the new season, it’s going to be “one after the other, especially for those who play internationally,” said Flick. Games every three days are then the order of the day. Flick knows how important good preparation is.