Frankfurt / Main (dpa) – After Niklas Süle’s short-term absence, Hansi Flick is one of the first tasks in the World Cup year to look for new defensive constellations in the national soccer team.
With the nomination of his premiere squad 2022 on the way to Qatar, the national coach will give the first answers today. However, no major surprises are expected in the squad for the friendlies on March 26 in Sinsheim against Israel and three days later against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Despite a few absences, Flick is probably relying on the staff with whom he won his first seven games as national coach in the second half of 2021 and was ultimately able to easily secure the ticket for the Winter World Cup in Qatar with this record.
Looking for alternatives on the defensive
Flick only got Süle’s rejection on Thursday. The 26-year-old from FC Bayern and Antonio Rüdiger from Chelsea form the regular line-up in central defence. Now a muscle fiber tear in his thigh is forcing him to watch the DFB start to the year. Gladbach’s Jonas Hofmann, who occupies the full-back position in the DFB team, will also be absent. Left-back Robin Gosens has just returned to play at Inter Milan after suffering a muscle injury.
Alternatives on the defensive are the flexible Thilo Kehrer from Paris Saint-Germain, Mönchengladbach’s Matthias Ginter and Nico Schlotterbeck from SC Freiburg, who after the first nominations in 2021 now also has the best chance of making his debut in the DFB jersey. A return of BVB defender Mats Hummels should not be an option. David Raum from TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Freiburg’s Christian Günter are considered to be promising candidates for Gosen’s regular position on the left side of defence.
Bitter the failure of Wirtz
The failure of Leverkusen’s super talent Florian Wirtz is bitter. The offensive player has torn his cruciate ligament and may not be available to Flick again until shortly before the World Cup. Bayern professional Leon Goretzka is not expected to be nominated after his protracted patellar tendon problems.
Flick will gather his squad in a hotel outside of Frankfurt on March 21. They only go to Sinsheim for the game against Israel the following weekend. Two days later follows the trip to Amsterdam for the prestige duel with the Dutch.