Before leaving for Skopje, national coach Hansi Flick also explicitly encouraged national soccer striker Timo Werner in front of the team.

"We support everyone in the team, we are there for each other, that is our mindset," said Flick on Sunday during the press conference before the World Cup qualifying match against North Macedonia on Monday (8.45pm in the FAZ live ticker and on RTL).

“The intensity he has in the game is just great.

We're talking about a player who has incredible quality. "

Werner acted unsuccessfully in the 2-1 win against Romania on Friday and didn't score. Unlike in the first three games in September under Flick, when the Chelsea professional had been successful in each case. Flick cannot understand criticism of the 25-year-old, who was not awarded a penalty against Romania after a long test using video evidence. “I can't change what's happening right now. I can only say that Timo does the job that he has to fulfill very well. ”Dealing with Werner is not always“ fair ”.

Team-mate Serge Gnabry also demonstrated the striker's back.

“I think we all do that in the team.

We know about the situation: If a striker doesn't score, the criticism comes from outside, ”said the Bayern professional.

“Within the team, we're really all behind Timo.

He accelerates, hangs himself in, that's the most important thing. "

Flick is planning with Neuer again

Flick is planning for the World Cup qualifier in Skopje again with captain Manuel Neuer in goal.

The 35-year-old Bayern Munich goalkeeper completed the training session in Hamburg on Sunday, the national coach said.

"I assume that it will work," said Flick with a view to Neuer's assignment on Monday.

The German number one had to take a break in the 2-1 win against Romania on Friday due to muscular problems. Marc-André ter Stegen represented Neuer in the Volksparkstadion. Central defender Antonio Rüdiger suspended the final training session because of back problems. But that was only "a precautionary measure," said Flick. He assumes that all 23 players in the squad are operational.

Flick wants to see a German team on the field again in the national stadium in Skopje, which acts with "enormous activity".

The aim is to book the World Cup tickets for Qatar 2022 as firmly as possible. With 18 points, the DFB team is ahead of the North Macedonians, who are six points behind in second place, just like third-placed Armenia.

Germany surprisingly lost the first leg with 1: 2.

"This game worries us all," said Bayern professional Gnabry about the planned revenge.