Hansi Flick feels most comfortable when he talks about his core business.
This Friday the national coach announces his line-up for the annual results of the German national soccer team against Liechtenstein and in Armenia.
And so that the appointment of potential newcomers such as Wolfsburg's youngster Lukas Nmecha is not completely overshadowed by the highly emotional vaccination debate about the leader Joshua Kimmich, who has not yet been protected from Corona, Flick jumped his superior as a precaution.
There is "no question that we do not have to be vaccinated in Germany and therefore accept Jo's attitude and continue to fully support him as a national player," said DFB director Oliver Bierhoff of the "Bild" newspaper (Thursday). The decision of the 26-year-old Bayern star, which was even commented on by Chancellor Angela Merkel, to forego the corona vaccination for the time being, he discussed with him "personally", said Bierhoff.
And flick?
The national coach will also have to comment on this issue.
With only a year left to prepare, Flick is subordinating everything to his big World Cup goal in Qatar.
After qualifying for the World Cup prematurely in October, the international matches that are no longer as important in terms of sporting terms will be played next Thursday (8.45 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the World Cup qualifications and on RTL) in Wolfsburg and three days later (6.00 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the World Cup) Qualification and at RTL) in Yerevan should therefore not be used for large experiments.
The official farewell to world champion coach Joachim Löw before kick-off against Liechtenstein should be followed by as many goals as possible in the 90 minutes of play.
Flick builds on an axle
"At the moment I have to say that I am very satisfied with the team," Flick said after five wins in five games with the World Cup ticket in his pocket. It is unlikely that he will not nominate his top performers, especially from the strong Bayern block around captain Manuel Neuer and Kimmich, just to do the clubs a favor at this stage of the season. Flick is building an axle with Fernblick WM 2022. Every game helps.
The last ailing Chelsea striker Timo Werner, whom Flick has been strengthening since taking office, will probably be missing. Emre Can and Lukas Klostermann are injured. Possible debutants include Nmecha (22), whom Flick observed during the week in the Champions League when he scored against Salzburg, as well as Jonathan Burkardt (21). According to Kicker, the Mainz player should help secure the EM ticket for the U-21 team. The jump to the senior team could follow later.
It will be exciting whether Mats Hummels will return to the national team.
A nomination of the 32-year-old BVB professional for the October Games was out of the question due to fitness reasons.
Now the 2014 world champion would basically be ready.
“I'll be there when I'm needed,” said Hummels at the beginning of the week, before the Champions League game against Ajax Amsterdam ended early on Wednesday evening after Hummels received a red card.
In central defense, Flick relies on the regained Bayern professional Niklas Süle (26) and Champions League winner Antonio Rüdiger (28).
The defense is eminently important for Flick's offensive system, which should also withstand attacks from major opponents in the coming year.
"It's a fine line what you do," said Flick, referring to the selection of staff and the international line-up.
"Now let's analyze everything and then see how the games are going in the clubs and who we can possibly add."
In return, the national coach and his assistants have been and are on the road a lot in the Bundesliga and European competitions.
After the nomination, Flick, his assistants Danny Röhl and Marcus Sorg and special coach Mads Buttgereit will watch Hertha BSC's game against Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday in Berlin.