World Cup in Qatar
First DFB training without a filling jug – Müller and Rüdiger there
The DFB team training in the Al-Shamal Stadium. photo
© Federico Gambarini/dpa
Here we go: After a day off after moving into the World Cup base, the national coach focuses entirely on the opening game.
National coach Hansi Flick completed the first team training session in Qatar with Thomas Müller and Antonio Rüdiger, but without Niclas Füllkrug.
Bremen center forward Füllkrug was absent from the German national soccer team’s unit at the Al-Shamal Sports Club stadium because of a flu infection. It is unclear whether the 29-year-old will be available in the German World Cup opener against Japan on Wednesday. Füllkrug had scored the winning goal in his international debut in the difficult 1-0 win in the last World Cup test in Muscat against Oman.
Bayern professional Müller and Real defender Rüdiger returned to team training as planned after being out for several weeks due to injury. In the first quarter of an hour, which was public for the media, which Flick opened with two short, loud whistles, neither had any recognizable problems. Müller had to pause at Bayern because of muscular problems, as did defender Antonio Rüdiger, who had a hip injury, at Real Madrid.
Flick had 25 players from his World Cup squad with him for the unit. Substitute goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen was able to train with captain Manuel Neuer and Kevin Trapp after a gastrointestinal infection that forced him to travel to the Persian Gulf late.
DFB director Oliver Bierhoff is confident that Füllkrug will be available to the DFB team against Japan. “You can’t make an exact prediction,” said Bierhoff, looking ahead to the first group game. However, the DFB doctors believed that there would be enough time for the 29-year-old to be “ready” for the start of the German group.