Per the latest updates from Sky Germany, Jonas Hofmann’s knee injury isn’t anything too serious, and he will stay with the team for now. In The team’s main session earlier today, he was able to bike to the training pitch, but then completed an individual session apart from the rest of the group. He sustained his injury during the first training session at Germany’s camp in Herzogenaurach, Bavaria this week and was reassessed in the physios tent after his individual session today. “He wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have the justified hope that he could get back in. We’ll have to wait and see,” assistant manager Marcus Sorg said of Hofmann’s situation.
While Germany’s training and coaching staff is still waiting to get a good gauge on Hofmann’s fitness, it’s understood that his knee problem isn’t anything too serious and Joachim Low is planning on having him available for all three group stage matches. It’s highly unlikely that he will start against France or Portugal, but Low has stressed that he could possibly use the Borussia Monchengladbach man on the right wing, where he plans on using Joshua Kimmich to start. This would be in a setup with three center backs and two, more advanced wing backs on either flank. There really isn’t a specialist for this position in Germany’s squad, but Low has confidence that Kimmich can do a job from that role and likewise Hofmann if need be.
Photo by Federico Gambarini/picture alliance via Getty Images
In Germany’s two tune-up friendlies, Hofmann only played a total of four minutes. He came on as a late sub for Leroy Sane in the 1-1 draw with Denmark and was an unused sub in the 7-1 win over Latvia. For all intents and purposes, Low could’ve made the decision to cut Hofmann from the squad after he sustained his knee injury, but the update from Sky combined with the fact that he was present for the team photos on seems to suggest that Low really wants to have him as an option.
His lack of involvement in both tune-up friendlies perhaps isn’t the best barometer for how much trust Low and his coaching staff have in Hofmann. If Kimmich doesn’t have success in the right wing back role, Low will not be afraid to try Hofmann there, though the first two group stages matches doesn’t seem like the best time for experimentations.
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