Mario Götze and Mats Hummels are said to be on Hansi Flick’s ominous 55 list. In a direct duel, the two buddies can now run perfect World Cup self-promotion again.
Hansi Flick was in the stadium last Saturday evening (October 22nd, 2022) when Mario Götze contributed with an excellent performance to tearing Borussia Mönchengladbach apart 3-1. The national coach was also there live when Götze played the one-two in the Champions League with great elegance and wonderful ease with Kolo Muani, who knocked out Olympique Marseille. The Frankfurt center forward raves about his colleague in the highest tones: “It’s just magical how Mario plays. He’s everywhere on the pitch.”
This Saturday evening (October 29th, 2022, live ticker at sportschau.de) Götze has a very special game coming up and the national coach is expected again. The World Cup final winner of 2014 will play with his Eintracht at 6.30 p.m. against his former club Borussia Dortmund and thus also against his old buddy and long-time companion Mats Hummels. The BVB central defender is still hoping to be part of the final squad in Qatar.
Only on “standby”?
The performance speaks for itself, just like with Götze. However, the recent Flick statement sounded more like Hummels might be more up “standby” set as shortlisted: “I am in contact with Mats, we have agreed things between us”, said the national coach on ntv. In addition to experience, the future also counts. “That’s why we might take a young player with us so that he can gain tournament experience. We’re also thinking about the time after the World Cup.”
In top form: Dortmund’s central defender Mats Hummels
It remains to be seen whether this is so wise in view of possible failures at the tournament. Perhaps Hummel’s flick will also convince with a gala against Kolo Muani and Götze. In any case, his statistics are currently outstanding again. Hummels, who changed his diet again in the summer and says he now omits sweets, is one of the best duels in the league. In terms of pass rate, he is in the top ten of all Bundesliga professionals, although he does not just limit himself to alibi cross passes, but opens the Dortmund game from behind.
“Very stable, very fit”
With Hummels in the starting eleven, BVB has a significantly higher success rate, which is one of the reasons why his club coach Edin Terzic has meanwhile ordered Niklas Süle to the right flank. After the 0-0 draw against Manchester City on Tuesday, Terzic praised him very much: “Mats showed an outstanding game. He won a lot of tackles for us and kept moving into midfield. Mats seems very stable and very fit.”
Against Eintracht, one of Hummels’ main tasks will be to stop Mario Götze playing passes to Kolo Muani, who is also in gala form. Terzic shows the utmost respect: “We know that Mario is always able to play the deadly pass. I’m just happy that he’s managed to reach his level again. He’s in very good shape, very good with the ball.”
Plays big: Frankfurt midfielder Mario Götze
“Will be a gigantic game”
Götze himself acts as if he doesn’t care much about the upcoming World Cup, but maybe he just wants to take some pressure off things: “It’s not an issue for me. I concentrate on my games and issues.”
His game and his topic is definitely the duel against BVB: “It’s going to be a huge game. I spent my youth in Dortmund, played there for many years and had a lot of good moments.”
Does Flick rely on the performance principle?
If there are a few more good moments in front of the national coach on Saturday evening, it could well have an impact on the World Cup squad. Flick has given himself two weeks to reduce his list of 55 to 26. On November 10, the public will find out whether the national coach at Hummels and Götze looked more at the perspective after the World Cup. Or whether he simply went according to the performance principle.