‘The best defender in the world’, a German who charms the English and an Englishman Pep Guardiola raves about: an overview of the World Cup winners who earn money in the Bundesliga.
With the World Cup final in Qatar still many days away, it was matchday two of the preliminary round and Germany still in the tournament, and Niclas Füllkrug, 29, made his appearance. Germany were trailing against Spain, so national team manager Hans-Dieter Flick, whom everyone calls simply “Hansi”, eventually replaced striker Füllkrug, whom everyone calls simply “Lücke”.
And “Lücke” did what he had previously done with some regularity for Werder Bremen: he found a void. His goal will be remembered.
From then on, the “Times” called the filling krug the “Knocked Teeth Killer”. They must have certainly felt vindicated there when Füllkrug scored again a few days later, again as a wildcard but this time against Costa Rica. Germany won and were eliminated. In a German team that won little and lost a lot in Qatar, Füllkrug was an exception.
He played just 66 minutes but scored two goals and set up one. Füllkrug is a winner of this World Cup final.
Guardiola is also enthusiastic about Bellingham
Even the British were stunned by the pitcher full at the World Cup but raved about Jude Bellinham. Bellingham, 19, was the link-up in England’s midfield, often picking the ball up from defenders and handing it to the forwards. Sometimes he seemed wild, he didn’t always play when he was supposed to play. Yet everything is there: talent and technique, understanding of the game and overview.
Bellinham it is no longer just a promise for the future, it is also a promise in the present.
They will do it at his club in Dortmund Bellingham They have watched the performances with joy, but there may also be concern mixed with joy. The best European clubs have known about it for some time Bellinham, even those with lots of money. Bellingham said City of Manchester Team manager Pep Guardiola, six “something special”. And Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president of Paris Saint-GermainHe says: “I’m not hiding it, everyone wants Bellingham.”
The best defender in the world is a Croatian, says the Croatian national team coach
Bellinham Will he leave BVB at some point, it’s not a question anymore, just the times are open. The situation is similar with RB Leipzig’s Josko Gvardiol, 20, played an impressive World Cup with Croatia, only the semi-finals weren’t his. He is still one of the World Cup winners. His national coach Zlatko Dalic says Gvardiol is the one “the best defenders in the world”. It’s a bold diagnosis, but what hasn’t happened yet can still happen.
Gvardiol defends well, rarely fouls and can also do something with the ball. And then his strong foot is also the left one. Scouts all over the world are looking for someone like him. So it wouldn’t be a big surprise if there was some truth to the reports from Croatia, Spain and Britain. There is Gvardiol with Manchester CityFC Chelsea and Real Madrid connected.
Thuram convinces like France’s prankster
above Marco Thuram, 25, no one will say he’s the best defender in the world, but Thuram isn’t a defender either. Thuram is an offensive player, he knows how to dribble and head and he also scores goals. Of course they know it in his club, Borussia Mönchengladbach, but now everyone knows it. His contract expires in the summer – and also Thuram he used the World Cup stage for himself.
France coach Didier Deschamps nominated Thuram for the finals in Qatar and then selected him as a wildcard. He came on five times and Thuram thanked him with two assists, including one late on. You can do it? He failed to score a single goal.
Mazraoui could soon become even more important for Bayern
It also has a goal Noussair Mazraoui he didn’t score at the World Cup, but he rarely scores anyway. It’s not even his job that’s more important than him. Mazraoui, 25, is a defender, is under contract with FC Bayern and also plays for Morocco. written together Mazraoui and the story of the World Cup in Morocco. They were the first African and Arab team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Mazraoui, at least you know with some certainty, will not change clubs in the weeks following the World Cup. He’s only been at Bayern for a few months. His departure was not easy, but just before the long break in the Bundesliga Mazraoui then he showed what he can do. And it could soon become even more important.
As central defender Lucas Hernández injured his cruciate ligament at the World Cup, he could play more often in Munich in future Benjamin Pavard move from the right side to the center. had last time Pavard often defended on the outsides – and there he won the duel with Mazraoui.