The nation can lay claim to a remarkable break-through talent in Jamal Musiala and in Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Ilkay Gundogan, Flick has as good a midfield trio as any nation at the tournament. Germany’s issues are also all too apparent in midfield. While the elder statement of this make-shift defence, Antonio Rudiger, hasn’t played for club or country since late October due to a hip injury and it remains to be seen whether he’ll be fit in time for the tournament.

Both of which have struggled under tactical novice Edin Terzic at the Westfalenstadion this season, to the tune of 21 conceded goals in 15 league games. Worriningly for Flick and Germany, this team’s defensive stability will likely rely on Dortmund pair Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Sule. Now, in 2022, the question is pertinent, particularly around the defence: Where are the Germans?įlick was probably right to leave Borussia Dortmund’s ageing star Mats Hummels at home but his claim that he has one “eye on the future” falls short when we consider that only two of his nine defenders are under the age of 22 and in Matthias Ginter, Lukas Klostermann and Christian Gunter, the Germany head coach has tied his hopes to players that have long since proved to be little more than decent Bundesliga defenders at best. It was in the Seoul Olympics of 1988 where the great Barry Davies, commentating on a hockey match, saw Britain score and exclaimed: “Where were the Germans? And frankly who cares?” Whether it be poorly executed press conferences, an underwhelming 1-0 win over Oman on Wednesday night that could have easily gone the other way, or a squad that looks like a mishmash of unproven or underperforming stars, brought together on the simple notion that there was no one else to choose from, Germany simply aren’t quite the force they once were. Indeed, there’s very little to suggest that Flick and his squad are in fact ready for this World Cup. The sight of the 57-year-old carefully coordinating the huge cardboard display over the microphones and cameras with a handful of helpers in high-visibility jackets and bewildered media staff would have undoubtedly been seen as a charming moment, had it not acutely chimed with the wider issues that are facing the German national team at the moment. It will be exciting to see what the team can deliver next summer.International managers are required to have a broad set of skills but even someone as experienced as Hansi Flick may have raised an eyebrow when he was required to set up the advertising board for his own press conference on Wednesday. There is significant work cut out for this squad but Flick could turn this team around to become a favorite at Euro 2024 with the right practice. It is refreshing to see Flick realize the problem and the first step is to admit you have a problem. That means we have to work our way back step by step.”įlick went on to state that Germany is no longer at the top as a national team. We are no longer at the top as a national team. We are very well equipped for this system with our squad,” Flick told the DFB website (as captured by the “We didn’t perform well in the last three major tournaments. We want to put our opponents under pressure offensively with the wing-backs and at the same time be defensively compact with the back three. We want to play with a back 3 in June against three really good opponents. “We want to play a different system in the three games.

A different system could be what Germany needs but the team needs to start serious planning and preparation before they host the European Championship in 2024. Hansi Flick's squad for the upcoming international fixtures /E4co4JHSOT- Germany June 2, 2023įlick has now expressed he wants to try a back-three in the upcoming window.

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