Hansi Flick calls newcomer Armel Bella Kotchap and switches to “World Cup mode” in his last squad nomination before Qatar.
In the unadorned boardroom of the new DFB campus, Hansi Flick looked out the window a little thoughtfully, then made a clear announcement to his World Cup candidates. “This is the starting signal for the World Cup”, stressed the national team coach, “we must enter tournament mode relatively quickly and do well!”
He himself, Flick said when he announced his latest team before being nominated for Qatar, was already “absolutely in World Cup mode” – and pulled a big surprise out of his hat 69 days before the opening match against the Japan. No Mario Götze, no Mats Hummels, but there is newcomer Armel Bella Kotchap. The 20-year-old defender, who joined FC Southampton from Bochum in the summer, “has developed very, very well,” said Flick.
Bella Kotchap previously played in the second division for most of her career. 44 second division games face 22 Bundesliga games in her CV.
Otherwise, he will rely on proven forces in his 24-man squad for the final Nations League matches on 23 September against leaders Hungary in Leipzig and three days later against England in London. But, underlined the boss, unbeaten in 13 international races, everyone “still has every chance to jump on the World Cup train. The door is still open for everyone” – including Götze and Hummels expressly.
“We are watching what he is doing, he is really good,” said Flick of the World Cup hero Götze, “he looks very mature and is very important for Frankfurt.” But in attack, his team has “enormous quality, it’s difficult to get into it”. Hummels watched Flick in Manchester on Wednesday night and was impressed. “He is in great shape and looks absolutely fit.”
DFB team: seven times Bayern, four times BVB
Seven professionals of the Bayern Munich champions around captain Manuel Neuer and four players of Borussia Dortmund make up the bulk of the squad. In addition to goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen, Christian Ginter and Robin Gosens are back. Benjamin Henrichs, Lukas Klostermann (injured), Jonathan Tah, Anton Stach and Karim Adeyemi are gone.
“We’re watching closely,” Flick said of possible other World Cup nominees, which also include Julian Draxler or the injured Florian Wirtz and Florian Neuhaus. Flick can call up two other players for the World Cup (November 20 to December 18). There are vacancies in defense and in the center of the attack. Flick is looking for a player “for special moments” like Götze had with his golden goal in 2014.
Flick is inspired by the excellent performances of the women’s national team with the second place in the European Championship. “They played exciting football – that’s how we want to see it too: with a high level of intensity. They used everything they had to offer,” enthused Flick.
But the burden on his pros is much higher, which is why he’s allowed himself a bit of digging in the Bundesliga. This had refused him the request to give up the Sunday matches of the last day before the World Cup. “I wish I had more consideration,” he said.
Flick will reunite with its players on Monday in Frankfurt, where they will train for the first time on the new campus. For the winning goal of the group and the final 4 of the Nations League, he wants to play “with the best eleven” – with the one that should reach the fifth star in the desert.
DFB team: The German team
- Tor: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-André ter Stegen (FC Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Defence: Armel Bella Kotchap (FC Southampton), Matthias Ginter (SC Freiburg), Robin Gosens (Inter), 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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