DFB team: Flick nominates Draxler and continues to do without Hummels – Sport

The national coach nominates the player from Paris for the international matches against Liechtenstein and Armenia. Freiburg’s Christian Günter also returns, Lukas Nmecha is new – a celebrity is still missing.

The German national team contests its end of the year with the returnees Julian Draxler and Julian Brandt as well as the debutant Lukas Nmecha. Overall, national coach Hansi Flick nominated four goalkeepers and 23 field players for the World Cup qualifying games against Liechtenstein in Wolfsburg (November 11) and three days later in Armenia. Some of his overstretched sizes are likely to get a break after the home game.

“Our idea was to bring one or two people back this year to see how they behave in the team, in the group. But of course also on the training ground,” said Flick. “We saw our chance. We won’t have a game for four months.” The national team wanted to “say goodbye to the year with two wins”.

Dortmund’s Brandt (25) and Paris professional Draxler (28) have been part of the DFB squad for the first time since autumn 2020 – in the young and top-class DFB offensive, both have to fight for their places. Many opportunities no longer come. “Julian Draxler is really held in high esteem in Paris. Julian Brandt has made a good development in the last few games,” said Flick, who is in with the two coaches Marco Rose (BVB) and Mauricio Pochettino (PSG) close contact. Günter from Freiburg had not yet been nominated by Flick either, the 28-year-old was part of the EM squad in the summer under Joachim Löw. “I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t be happy,” said the left-back shortly before the nomination German press agency said.

Nmecha (22) could be the fourth debutant in the short term of office of the national coach. The Wolfsburg is “technically at a good level, he is on the road a lot and is agile,” said Flick. “He’s always trying to create space. He’s a bit of a different type of player than the one we currently have.”

Mats Hummels is again missing from Flick’s line-up. Flick said he was talking to the BVB defenderthat he should use the time for training. The 32-year-old is already “close to 100 percent” of his capabilities, according to the coach. First of all, a break is even better. When the central defender is completely fit again, “we all know that he can help every team,” said Flick. “In the end it is correct – his assessment and our assessment.” In return, Ilkay Gündogan returns after recovering from injury. The DFB selection had already bought the ticket for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar in October.