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Armel Bella-Kotchap (right) gives a slide tackle to Raheem Sterling
Photo:
DAVID KLEIN / REUTERS
No Mario Götze, no Mats Hummels - but surprise man Armel Bella Kotchap: With a newcomer and a squad that is otherwise completely geared towards the World Cup, the German national soccer team will play their two final Nations League games.
According to national coach Hansi Flick, Götze and Hummels, like other wobbly candidates, “still have every chance of jumping on the World Cup train.
The door is still open for everyone.«
In his 24-man squad for the encounters on September 23 with Hungary in Leipzig and three days later with England in London, Flick is relying on proven forces.
"This is the starting shot towards the World Cup, we're already absolutely in World Cup mode," he said.
The 20-year-old defender Bella Kotchap from Premier League club FC Southampton deserved the first appointment because of his "very, very good development," said Flick about the former Bochum player.
Seven professionals from record champions Bayern Munich around captain Manuel Neuer and four players from Borussia Dortmund make up the bulk of the national team.
In addition to goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Christian Ginter and Robin Gosens are returning.
Benjamin Henrichs, Lukas Klostermann (injured), Jonathan Tah, Anton Stach and Karim Adeyemi, who were nominated in June, are no longer there.
Hoping to win the group
"We're taking a close look," said Flick, who can call up two more players for the Qatar World Cup (November 20 to December 18).
There are vacancies in defense and in the center of attack, in midfield "we have high quality," said Flick.
The national coach is also looking for a player "for the special moments".
In the Nations League, he continues to plan with the goal of Final 4 in 2023. The DFB-Elf is currently in second place, one point behind Hungary.
The German squad:
Goal:
Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (FC Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Defense:
Armel Bella Kotchap (FC Southampton), Matthias Ginter (SC Freiburg), Robin Gosens (Inter Milan), Thilo Kehrer (West Ham United), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rüdiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Sule (Borussia Dortmund)
Midfield / Attack:
Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City), Kai Havertz (Chelsea FC), Jonas Hofmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Thomas Müller (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Lukas Nmecha (VfL Wolfsburg), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
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