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National coach Hansi Flick: “The squad that is there now is the measure of all things in terms of trunk”
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Christian Charisius / dpa
With the 26-man squad for the upcoming Nations League games in June, Hansi Flick is already sending clear signals for the World Cup in Qatar.
In the games against teams such as European champions Italy and the European Championship finalists England, the national football coach no longer tests newcomers, but relies on established players.
Compared to the internationals in March, Flick can again count on regulars like the Bayern quartet with Niklas Süle, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry.
Marco Reus, Karim Adeyemi, Jonas Hofmann, Lukas Klostermann and goalkeeper Oliver Baumann are also celebrating a comeback in the DFB team.
“This is not a final squad for the World Cup.
The door is open,” said Flick in a media round on Thursday.
But the 57-year-old also emphasized: “The squad that is there now is the measure of all things in terms of trunk.” This is a clear indication of some World Cup candidates.
There is also a Frankfurt match winner
Players such as last year's European Championship participants Matthias Ginter (Mönchengladbach) and Robin Gosens (Inter Milan) are missing from the squad, which will initially meet on Monday for a short training camp with family members in Marbella, Spain.
Florian Neuhaus from Gladbach and Christian Günter from Freiburg were not invited this time either.
Paris Saint-Germain's Julian Draxler is currently injured.
"I understand anyone who is disappointed," said Flick, "I know that they take it as an incentive." His nomination criteria?
"We have made it very clear to the players what we expect: that they have playing practice and rhythm, that they are developing."
For goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, who is scheduled to take a break in the summer, Hoffenheim’s Oliver Baumann is the third keeper alongside captain Manuel Neuer and Frankfurt Europa League winner Kevin Trapp.
Even after his strong performance in the final on Wednesday evening in Seville against Glasgow Rangers, Flick confirmed that 31-year-old Trapp was in “outstanding form” and that he was developing very well.
»Terodde is a striker who scores a lot of goals – now in the 2nd division«
Flick also praised second division top scorer Simon Terodde for his outstanding goal record at newly promoted FC Schalke 04 and gave him a minimal chance of making the national soccer team and taking part in the World Cup.
The 34-year-old Terodde had just described international matches for Germany as a personal dream and scored 30 goals for Schalke this season.
"Simon Terodde is already a striker who scores a lot of goals - now in the 2nd division," said Flick, and: "We'll see how next season looks like, whether he can score goals in the premier division".
What applies to all World Cup candidates applies to him: "If he plays at a top level - that's the Bundesliga - and performs well there and scores his goals, all doors and gates are open."
After the training camp in Spain (May 23-27), Flick gives his squad two days off.
On May 30, the DFB selection will meet in Herzogenaurach to prepare for the four Nations League games in Bologna against Italy (June 4), in Munich against England (June 7), in Budapest against Hungary (June 11). . June) and prepare again in Mönchengladbach against Italy (14 June).
"These games are a great opportunity for us to show how far we've come," said Flick, looking ahead to the World Cup finals in Qatar, which begin on November 21.
ngo/dpa/sid
