Flick explains selections of Nmecha, Brandt, and Draxler
Journalist Jörn Petersen of German footballing magazine Kicker was able to assemble some quotes from German national team trainer Hansi Flick on three more of his selections on Friday evening.
Just as was the case in October, Germany's preeminent footballing publication was able to get a quick take from Bundestrainer Hansi Flick on some of his personnel choices on squad selection day.
We've already published some of Flick's comments on the absence of Mats Hummels here on Bulinews. The 56-year-old national team head-coach also commented on call ups for Lukas Nmecha, Julian Brandt, and Julian Draxler.
On Lukas Nmecha:
The former England international, who joined Germany's Green company team along with younger brother Felix this summer, earns his first call-up to the senior squad. Even before current VfL Wolfsburg striker Wout Weghorst was stricken with COVID, Nmecha was moving up former Wolfsburg trainer Mark van Bommel's depth chart.
The general consensus in German footballing circles remains that the national team needs at least one alternative to Timo Werner in terms of a true number nine. This constitutes a huge opportunity for the 22-year-old, who has now scored five times across all competitions.
"[Against Freiburg in round nine] he missed four very good chances, but he was always there," Flick said, "With his beautiful winning goal [against Salzburg in the Champions' League] he also underlined that he can finish. He's quite active and can hold the ball up well. He goes for it in Horst Hrubesch ways even though he doesn't have the physical build."
On Julian Brandt and Julian Draxler:
There are actually five returnees on Flick's latest squad. Ilkay Gündogan (Manchester City), Christian Günter (SC Freiburg), and Eintracht Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp are nevertheless coming back after only brief absences.
The recalls of Julian Brandt of Borussia Dortmund and Julian Draxler of PSG are much more significant in that the national team of both players was considered to be over by some. Neither player has been called up since 2020. Brandt received his last look in the spring of that year. Draxler only played in a friendly that October.
Both are now back for their first look under the new Bundestrainer. Brandt has looked especially good in recent weeks for the BVB. Draxler is still being used mostly off the bench in Paris.
"We want to see them in training," Flick said, "I want to see them up close and personal and see how they work with the group. We are convinced that they both have good quality and can bring our team forward in terms of football. They can draw attention to themselves here."