After the cracker lots England and Italy as the maximum World Cup touchstones in the Nations League, Hansi Flick's long to-do list for 2022 now also includes a tricky conversation with Hans-Joachim Watzke.
The national coach does not want to talk to the BVB boss about the Qatar prospects of Dortmund professionals Mats Hummels or Marco Reus.
Rather, it is about urgent deadline issues.
As the new head of the board of directors of the German Football League, Watzke is the point of contact if Flick wants to round up his World Cup candidates for preparation before the official FIFA deployment period after the end of the Bundesliga season. Before the four top international matches in June with the games in and against Italy (June 4th / 14th), against England (June 7th) and in Hungary (June 11th), a training camp in the south might come in very handy for the national coach.
With a crash course like this, he was also happy to lay the foundation for titles at FC Bayern.
And right before the World Cup in November there is no time for the usual preparation camp this time.
“We are dependent on the goodwill of the clubs.
Those are the things that we have to discuss, ”said Flick after the famous draw with the desired top opponents as important World Cup indicators, which he followed in front of the laptop on Thursday evening.
"I'm looking forward to the first conversation with Aki Watzke," said Flick with a smile.
Flick is not thinking of revenge
Planning is now everything for Flick. A World Cup hotel can soon be booked after the inspection in Qatar. You could already see that between the lines in the positive travel report of the DFB head coach. With the established Nations League group, the sporting parameters for the countdown are also clear. The desire for revenge for the Wembley defeat without him at the European Championship in England (0: 2) is alien to him. “There are new players with us. England will have new players. We have a completely new team of coaches. It's about measuring yourself against them, ”he said, describing his priorities.
After the first tests on March 26th in Sinsheim, preferably against South Africa and a few days later pretty safe in the Netherlands, the once unloved Nations League is suddenly also with the final group matches against Hungary (September 23rd) and in England (September 26th) the ideal World Cup preliminary. It brings exactly the tough tournament touchstones that the national team was spared in qualifying with seven victories under Flick.
At the end of the year, Flick will first be working from home this weekend. Corona leaves the national coach no other choice either. “I actually wanted to go to two more games, once Hoffenheim against Gladbach and then Freiburg against Leverkusen,” said Flick about his final plans for 2021. “But we have now decided, due to the situation in Baden-Württemberg, not to go to the stadium because it is also not allowed. That's why we didn't do it and will look at it at home. "
Before the festival, Flick wants to do a few analyzes of his observations. Then there is also a Christmas break for the 56-year-old, a short time to breathe. But of course my thoughts have long been about the World Cup and, since Thursday evening, especially about the way to Qatar. “We are still far from satisfied, what we see on the pitch. If you look at the group in the Nations League in the summer, I think that with England, Italy, but also Hungary, there are teams that are top level. We have to take the next step, ”demanded the national coach.
The hopeful coach has just returned from his inspection tour from Qatar with very fresh impressions and has been impressed by the logistical conditions in the World Cup host country.
“As far as the infrastructure is concerned, as far as the seats are concerned, everything around is really good, that's great.
Top places, all at a high level.
That's one thing to look forward to, ”said Flick.