On Wednesday evening, the German national team will complete the World Cup dress rehearsal against Oman (from 6 p.m.). A good week before the first game in Qatar against Japan, national coach Hansi Flick commented on some personal details at a press conference after the first training session.
“We’re looking closely at who needs a break,” explained Flick. Thomas Müller and Antonio Rüdiger will therefore not train with the team until Saturday. Müller still has slight problems with the adductors, the supposed defense boss Rüdiger with his hip. The national coach wants everyone “on the same level” so that we can rest one or the other player. The test against Oman will not yet provide precise information about the first World Cup starting XI a week later against Japan. Even if the first indications are to be expected.
Mario Götze, who played an outstanding first half of the season with Eintracht Frankfurt, but also had to play a lot of games, should also step down for the time being. “Mario has enormous quality in the first third,” Flick enthused about the 2014 World Cup hero. Alongside Thomas Müller and Jamal Musiala, the 30-year-old is an alternative, especially in the tenth position, but can also play in the other offensive positions be used.
Meanwhile, Youssoufa Moukoko and Niclas Füllkrug can hope to make their senior debuts against Oman. Both should be in demand at the World Cup after the failures of Timo Werner and Lukas Nmecha, especially as jokers.
This article was originally published on 90min.de as a World Cup dress rehearsal in Oman: Flick lets star duo pause.
