Germany starting eleven today against Japan: With Müller, without Goretzka - but with a defensive surprise

Created: 11/24/2022, 4:50 am

By: Patrick Mayer

Thomas Müller is in the starting XI against Japan.

© Christian Schroedter/imago

Germany will face Japan at the 2022 World Cup.

Can Thomas Müller go?

Who will replace Leroy Sane?

Where does Joshua Kimmich play?

This is the line-up of the DFB team.

Update, 12:42 p.m .:

Almost an hour and a half before the start of the World Cup duel between Germany and Japan, the DFB team announced its line-up.

The team of national coach Hansi Flick goes into the first group game with the following line-up:

Neuer - Süle, Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum - Kimmich, Gündogan - Gnabry, Müller, Musiala - Havertz

Due to Leroy Sané's injury, Hansi Flick starts the game with Musiala on the left.

Thomas Müller probably moves to the ten, while Kimmich and Gündogan and Kimmich form the double six

DFB line-up: who starts against Japan in the center of the attack?

Update from November 23, 11:33 a.m .:

How does Hansi Flick set up?

We should know in about an hour.

It is quite possible that Ilkay Gündogan will move to the ten after Leroy Sané's injury and Jamal Musiala will come over the left.

The national coach would not blow up the Bayern duo Kimmich / Goretzka.

It will also be exciting to see who starts in the storm center.

Here Flick should decide between Havertz and Müller.

Who will it be?

First report from November 22, 9:52 p.m .:

Munich / ar-Rayyan – where to go with Thomas Müller?

Who will replace Leroy Sane?

Does he break the FC Bayern block?

These are likely to be the three central questions for national coach Hansi Flick before Germany’s opener against Japan this Wednesday (2 p.m. CET, here in the live ticker) at the 2022 World Cup.

Lineup of Germany against Japan: Leroy Sané is missing, does Thomas Müller play offensively?

Sané was considered set.

But the Munich offensive player is not available due to knee problems against the four-time Asian champions.

Flick has to change.

And does that break the Bavarian five-man bulwark in the center between defensive and offensive midfield and on the wings?

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Originally, a five-man team with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka at the hinge point between the six-man position and "the eight" had indicated, flanked by Sané and Serge Gnabry on the outside, always changing positions with the disguised playmaker Jamal Musiala.

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But: Nothing will come of it against the Japanese selection, which is peppered with eight players from the Bundesliga.

Is that exactly the chance for veteran Müller?

The 32-year-old from Upper Bavaria has the most international goals (44) in the German squad at the 2022 World Cup.

That and his well-known spatial interpreter qualities are arguments for a mission against the "Samurai Blue", as the Japanese national team is called by their fans.

World Cup 2022: Lineup of the DFB team against Japan – Gündogan and Götze are candidates

Müller could then cross more centrally, while Gnabry comes explosively over the flank and Musiala just dribbles away.

Just like the 19-year-old has done in the past few months with the German Bundesliga record champions.

After all, his second parade position is that of the left winger.

Another alternative for the offensive: 2014 World Cup hero Mario Götze (Eintracht Frankfurt).

This is not the only reason why the Bayern block could finally be broken on the central axis.

Flick is considered a big fan of Ilkay Gündogan, who at the age of 32 has been promoted to captain at Guardiola club Manchester City.

Crosses from the outside right?

Joshua Kimmich from FC Bayern in the DFB team.

© IMAGO/ULMER/Markus Ulmer

Line-up of Germany against Japan: does Flick set up Bayern's Kimmich on the right back?

One possibility would be for the former Borussia Dortmund player to form double six (or eight) with Goretzka in midfield and Kimmich to slip back into the back four.

Because: The problem position in the DFB team is almost traditionally that of the right-back.

Striking: FCB coach Julian Nagelsmann put the 27-year-old Swabian in the right back right in the last Bundesliga game before the World Cup break at FC Schalke (2-0).

Around the game, Nagelsmann also said in a cryptic way that he had been in contact with Flick.

Because he asked him to give Kimmich time as a right-back?

In the past few weeks, David Raum has played on the left back at RB Leipzig after a bumpy start to the season.

Can he also play against Japan?

Or does BVB defender Nico Schlotterbeck move to the left from central defense?

expected

List of Germany:

Neuer - Kimmich, Rüdiger, Süle, Schlotterbeck (room) - Gündogan, Goretzka - Gnabry, Müller (Götze), Musiala - Havertz (filling jug)

(pm)