Germany's World Cup losers: Flick and his cancellations - the entire top eleven stays at home

Created: 11/10/2022 3:34 p.m

By: Marcus Giebel

26 professionals are there for the DFB team at the World Cup in Qatar - more than ever before.

But prominent names are missing.

Mats Hummels, Robin Gosens & Co. are among the losers of the nomination.

Munich – The die has been cast, national coach Hansi Flick has announced his chosen ones.

The successor to Joachim Löw also made use of the privilege of being able to nominate 26 players for the first time to represent the DFB at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and earn the fifth star for the jersey.

The chance of jumping on the World Cup train was greater than ever in terms of raw numbers.

Nevertheless, as before every World Cup, there were various hardship cases this time too.

And thus disappointed, who had probably imagined the longest winter break of their football life differently than with test matches and weeks of vacation.

For them, this World Cup is just a television experience, as reported by tz.de.

World Cup 2022: Werner, Reus & Co. are missing in Qatar due to injuries

There were the unlucky ones who were out of the question because of an injury or at least would not have been in full possession of their strength.

Timo Werner is out due to a syndesmosis ligament rupture, Lukas Nmecha's patellar tendon is causing problems, Florian Neuhaus is out due to a cruciate ligament injury, and Mahmoud Dahoud is struggling with a shoulder injury.

And then there's Marco Reus, who must once again feel like he's on Groundhog Day: everything has been there before, but somehow it's the same every time.

An inflammation in the ankle after suffering a torn lateral ligament in the 1-0 win over Schalke 04 took away all hopes of the Borussia Dortmund captain finally being able to play big at a World Cup.

"We will miss him," Flick also regrets the loss, because the team "could have used his quality."

Painful sight: The ankle injury from the Revier derby ultimately cost Marco Reus participation in the World Cup.

© IMAGO / district photo

Who is missing in Qatar?

Wirtz not yet fit enough after a cruciate ligament tear

The tournament also came at the wrong time for Florian Wirtz, the shooting star of Bayer Leverkusen and the entire Bundesliga last season.

A cruciate ligament tear abruptly stopped the teenager's brilliant rise in March, and he has not returned to the pitch to rouse the opposition's defenses to this day.

Together with Jamal Musiala and Karim Adeyemi, Wirtz could have brought a breath of fresh air to the sometimes unimaginative DFB offensive and radiated new enthusiasm for the game.

But the consolation for the 19-year-old remains that his time will come.

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Hummels and the 2022 World Cup: BVB star has never been nominated under Flick

For other professionals with far more experience, however, the non-consideration should have been a real blow to the neck.

Mats Hummels, for example, celebrated world champion 2014 and once undisputed defense organizer.

The 33-year-old once again underlined his value at BVB this season and, despite the prominent additions Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle, is an indispensable part of the black and yellow defense.

But Flick decided on the two younger club colleagues.

For Hummels, this should probably mean the end of the DFB team.

After he made his comeback and was set again last summer - two and a half years after he was kicked out, together with Jerome Boateng and Thomas Müller - around the European Championship.

Under Flick, however, the former FC Bayern professional has not even been nominated, and Antonio Rüdiger and Matthias Ginter are also more popular with him.

Hummels had recently emphasized on

that he wanted to fill "every role as best he could" if he was handed a World Cup ticket.

Accordingly, the leader could have made friends with a place on the bench.

The 2022 World Cup will take place without them: Mats Hummels (centre) and Robin Gosens (left) were not nominated by national coach Hansi Flick.

© IMAGO / Sven Simon

Goalkeeper question at the 2022 World Cup: Leno is at a disadvantage compared to Trapp

Bernd Leno would certainly not have dared to dream of more.

But the FC Fulham keeper now finally has black and white that Kevin Trapp has outstripped him as number three behind seeded goalkeepers Manuel Neuer and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

At the 2021 European Championship, the Londoner by choice was still in the squad because the Barca professional was injured.

This year, however, the name Leno did not come up once when Flick listed his rosters.

Not so long ago, when it came to the question of the role of prince behind Neuer, it seemed to be a duel between him and ter Stegen.

At least now it is questionable whether Leno will ever be in the DFB squad again.

Even if, apart from Alexander Nübel, not too many representatives of the following generation impose themselves.

World Cup in Qatar without Gosens: professional at Inter Milan mostly only replacement

Flick's World Cup squad is also a reminder for Robin Gosens, who captivated many fans at the European Championships with his wing runs and, especially as a professional without training in a youth academy, nurtured hope for moves outside of the usual scheme.

In the 4-2 victory over Portugal, he managed the game of his life with three goals - he made sure that the DFB team had the only impressive performance in the tournament.

His move from Atalanta Bergamo to Inter Milan was fatal for the left foot, because he had only been in the starting eleven for the “Nerazzurri” since mid-September.

It remains to be seen whether the 28-year-old will again be an alternative for Flick in the future - in Qatar, alongside David Raum, who is currently not constant, Christian Günter can prove himself as a backup.

Gosens was only asked once in 2022: In the 3: 3 in England he came into the game at 2: 0 as a left-back - the following 22 minutes were anything but a letter of application.

Was in a good mood when the squad was announced: Hansi Flick is going into his first tournament as national coach.

© IMAGO / Beautiful Sports

World Cup 2022 missed: Flick does without the weak Tah and Can

A great future had actually been predicted to Jonathan Tah.

The defender made his debut shortly after his 20th birthday, was in the squad for the 2016 European Championship a little later, but has since missed the next step.

He has never been on the pitch for more than two DFB games in a row.

The 26-year-old played through twice under Flick, but only got three minutes in the 5-2 win over Italy in the summer and was completely absent in September.

No wonder: Tah is playing a completely messed-up season with Bayer Leverkusen, and for him too it has to be a matter of getting back on track.

This also applies to Emre Can, who recently attracted more attention in Dortmund with criticism of the team than with performance.

In the Bundesliga, the all-rounder was mostly just a substitute and was missing in the last two games.

He last wore the DFB jersey at the European Championships, but even Can's flexibility doesn't seem to be a reason for Flick to test the 28-year-old.

Leipziger in the DFB team for the World Cup: Flick decides for Klostermann and against Henrichs

Marcel Halstenberg is also still waiting for his first appointment under the national coach.

The left-back may have played his part in RB Leipzig's upswing under coach Marco Rose, but this development appears to have come too late.

Team-mate Benjamin Henrichs also won't be able to travel to Qatar, but the right-back was at least in the starting XI in the 1-1 draw against Italy in June.

In addition to Thilo Kehrer, Flick surprisingly chose Lukas Klostermann for his position, who has only played one game of the season due to a torn syndesmosis ligament and has only just returned to the RB bench.

Two Schweinis, Ballack, Javi Martinez: These are the World Cup experts in Qatar

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Flick's World Cup squad: No chance for Arnold and Volland

Maximilian Arnold, who played his second and third international matches a year ago but was at least nominated in September, probably had more outsider chances.

The left-footed player is just getting going with VfL Wolfsburg, but in his position in central midfield Flick has real world-class players available in Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Ilkay Gündogan and Musiala.

Given the personnel concerns on the offensive, Kevin Volland might also have been worth considering.

The professional from AS Monaco made two brief appearances at the 2021 European Championships, and Flick sent him onto the field twice as a joker last November in the World Cup qualifier.

However, the left-footed player was out for weeks this season due to a sprained ankle and was only recently called back into the starting line-up for the Monegasque team.

This is probably one of the reasons why the choice fell on the debutants Niclas Füllkrug and Youssoufa Moukoko instead.

However, the overview shows: Even with all the stars who stayed at home, a decent team could be put together - including a strong substitute bench.

Starting eleven:

Leno - Henrichs, Tah, Hummels, Gosens - Dahoud, Neuhaus - Reus, Wirtz - Nmecha, Werner

Bank:

Halstenberg, Can, Arnold, Volland