All sympathy for his World Cup desired striker Timo Werner is useless. Hansi Flick only has a few days to name a replacement for the Leipzig player who has injured his ankle. When the national coach announces his list of 26 players for the World Cup next Thursday (12:00 p.m.) at the Frankfurt DFB campus, the direction of attack for Qatar will at least be clear. The opening game against Japan follows 13 days later.
Does Flick rely on a classic center forward like the internationally inexperienced Bremen player Niclas Füllkrug or rather on a tricky youngster like BVB attacker Youssoufa Moukoko? Will Mario Götze, the 2014 World Cup hero, get a new chance after his renaissance at Eintracht Frankfurt? Or will the tactical system be adhered to and the gap closed with on-board resources around Thomas Müller, Serge Gnabry or Kai Havertz, who are not at the front.
There are a few candidates for the now suddenly vacant post in the German storm headquarters. But who really convinces in the center forward position? The irony: Despite the eight goals in the 15 international matches of the still short Flick era, Werner was actually an emergency solution for the German problem position.
Flick’s central storm options after Werner’s failure:
Kai Havertz (23 years old/30 internationals/10 goals): Werner’s former Chelsea colleague also played in the center under Flick. His goal threat is undisputed. But Havertz prefers to come from the depths, as he did last time with his brace in a 3-3 win in England. Nomination chance: Certainly there at the World Cup.
Thomas Müller (33 years/118/44): The veteran also feels at home at the front. He helped out when Miroslav Klose was absent. Ten World Cup goals is the record for all active professionals, more than Ronaldo or Messi (both 6). But Müller has to get really fit first. Nomination chance: Certainly there at the World Cup.
Serge Gnabry (27/36/20): With Flick’s predecessor Joachim Löw, the Munich player “always” played. And sometimes right in the center. But Flick trusts him more as a winger. As a false nine, Gnabry would be an emergency solution for the World Cup. Nomination chance: Certainly there at the World Cup.
Niclas Füllkrug (29/0/0): With nine goals, the man from Bremen is currently the best striker in the Bundesliga. Reflexively, his nomination is demanded by experts and fans. The longing for the classic center forward is great. But is the quality enough for the World Cup level? Nomination chance: The chances are increasing from day to day.
Lukas Nmecha (23/7/0): The Wolfsburg player is a shadow striker in flick orbit. He was always a backup in the squad. He was allowed to prove his skills as a joker, without lucky goals. In the debut against Liechtenstein a year ago, the post got in the way. Chance of nomination: Probably at the World Cup.
Youssoufa Moukoko (17/0/0): When Flick talked about wanting to take a prospective player to Qatar, the name of the young BVB attacker automatically came up. Tricky, fast, carefree. The future belongs to Moukoko, but also the present? Nomination chance: A real joker candidate.
Mario Götze (30/63/17): That would be a comeback fairy tale. The 2014 final hero is also convincing internationally at Eintracht Frankfurt. The passion for football is back. The now vacant place could actually allow a DFB return after five years. Nomination chance: Increased due to Werner’s failure.
Marco Reus (33/48/15): The BVB captain also played in the DFB jersey in the front center. If only it weren’t for the constant injuries. If he benefits from Werner’s failure, that would be a sign of fate. In 2014 he had to pass out injured shortly before the World Cup departure. Opportunity for nomination: Flick appreciates his qualities, but doubts remain.
Karim Adeyemi (20/4/1): Even as a Salzburg striker, he was one of the first Flick debutants in 2021 and a great promise for the future. Recently no longer nominated as a Dortmund attacker because the national coach doesn’t like his nonsense. Nomination chance: Adeyemi shares recently crashed at the DFB.
Jonathan Burkhardt (22/0/0): Even before Flick became national coach, the U21 European champion was considered the up-and-coming man for the storm center of the A squad. He hasn’t been nominated yet. The Mainz player remains a perspective player for the home EM 2024. Nomination chance: A surprise candidate.
Hany Mukhtar (27/0/0): In the United States, the Berliner was top scorer at Nashville SC and named player of the season in Major League Soccer. The World Cup problem: Mukthar is allegedly not on the provisional squad list as required. Nomination chance: Could be obsolete due to formal hurdle.
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