Thomas Müller has been called up for the two international matches of the German national soccer team against Japan and France. Reason: Niclas Füllkrug is ailing.
Füllkrug, who switched from Werder Bremen to Borussia Dortmund shortly before the transfer window closed, was suffering from a “slight tendon irritation”, as the German Football Association (DFB) announced on Monday (September 4th, 2023).
The German national team will play against Japan in Wolfsburg on September 9 – Germany had lost this duel at the World Cup and it was the beginning of a debacle. This is followed by the big game in Dortmund against Vice World Champion France, which will be shown live on September 12th on the first and in the stream on sportschau.de.
Last game so far against Costa Rica
Immediately after the win against Costa Rica almost exactly nine months ago, which did not prevent Germany from knocking out the World Cup, Müller hinted at a DFB resignation, but quickly put this statement into perspective. At the World Cup, Müller was one of the starting eleven in all three group games, but – like the majority of the team – had not convinced.
When the squad was announced, Flick reported on a conversation with Müller. “First of all, it’s important that he gets back to Bayern Munich after his injury and the problems he had.” The procedure was “clearly agreed”.
On the offensive against Japan, Flick will certainly have to do without Müller’s Bayern team-mate Jamal Musiala, who is only due to travel to the team headquarters in Wolfsburg on Wednesday after tearing a muscle fiber. Musiala would then be an option again for the game against France in Dortmund, Flick said.