National coach Hansi Flick wants to tackle the showdown for a place in the round of 16 against Costa Rica with high pressing and a quick lead. He does not think about resigning in the event of a retirement.
As always at press conferences, national coach Hansi Flick did not think at all of disclosing details about his starting eleven. But if it can be taken as a sign that Lukas Klostermann appeared on the podium one day before the group “final” of the World Cup in Qatar against Costa Rica, then it is quite conceivable that the man from Leipzig on Thursday (01.12.2022/ 8 p.m. CET live on Erste and on sportschau.de) as a right-back for Thilo Kehrer, who was unconvincing against Spain.
Germany’s Klostermann hopes for more World Cup time
“I hope I can help the team with a little more playing time,” said Klostermann, who had paused for months before the World Cup with a syndesmosis tear and only jumped on the World Cup train at the last moment. “Winning the game is at the top of the list.”
Right-back Lukas Klostermann is “always an option” for the national coach.
Against Spain he came on in the 70th minute for Kehrer, who had already been warned, and initiated the attack that led to the 1-1. Costa Rica is expecting Klostermann “Very physical and passionate. But I’m confident we can win the game.”
DFB team wants to put pressure on other games with a quick lead
That is also national coach Flick, who assumes a strongly defensive team. “Just like they did against Japan.” He wants his players to start with great intensity and high pressure in order to force the opponent to make mistakes.
Arithmetic games with the goal difference, if it comes down to a comparison with Spain, he doesn’t want to do it: “It would be presumptuous and disrespectful to Costa Rica to expect to score eight goals.”
With an attitude like against Spain, his team should “quickly clear the game” and “Put pressure on the other place too”. In the parallel game, Japan and Spain play against each other, both of whom are also fighting for a place in the World Cup round of 16.
Havertz had a cold before the Spain game
While Flick Klostermann raised hopes (“Lukas is always an option”), he blocked the efforts to get something out of him about the starting eleven chances for super joker Niclas Füllkrug and Leroy Sané with a smile: “Nice try.”
He expressly praised the three-man constellation with Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Ilkay Gündogan in midfield. Gündogan in particular solved the unusual task of taking Sergio Busquets out of the game and blocking pass routes very well.
All 26 players completed their final training session on Wednesday evening (November 30th, 2022), including Kai Havertz, who didn’t get a chance against Spain because he had a cold. “I want to make that clear again”said Flick. “Kai Havertz didn’t play because of poor performance, but because he had a cold. And we need players who are 100 percent fit.”
Flick does not think about resigning: contract until 2024
He doesn’t feel any pressure, said Flick. That was not the case after the Japan game either. “We’re taking the game very seriously, we’ll see what comes next, and we’ll see if it’s enough in the end.”
Flick had to smile when asked whether the game against Costa Rica could be his last as national coach if the DFB team were eliminated. “I have a contract until 2024 and I’m looking forward to the European Championships at home”he said. “But that’s a long way away.”