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By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Matthäus selects the Germany team he would field against Spain

Lothar Matthäus would make four changes for Germany's clash with Spain.
Lothar Matthäus.
Lothar Matthäus.Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0
Former German international Lothar Matthäus has revealed how he would line up against Spain on Sunday if he were in Hansi Flick's shoes.



In a column in German tabloid Bild, Matthäus states that he would make four changes from Germany's disappointing 1-2 defeat against Japan, picking Thilo Kehrer, Christian Günter, Leon Goretzka and Niclas Füllkrug at the expense of Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum, Thomas Müller and Kai Havertz.

"With Thomas Müller, I thought of my last tournament, the European Championship in 2000. Back then, I came off a two-week injury and never found my game. I did not have the impression that Müller is one hundred percent fit. He was not in the game," Matthäus wrote.

"In my opinion, Günter must play at left-back, with Kehrer on the right. Süle must play in central defense - or Ginter. Against Spain, a stable defense will be important.

"Starting with Goretzka next to Kimmich in midfield would also stabilize the team. Then Gündogan would move forward and Musiala play on the left. Gnabry stays on the right. And if Hansi wants to play his preferred 4-2-3-1 system, Füllkrug has to come in as a real No. 9."

Here's the team Matthäus would field:

Manuel Neuer

Thilo Kehrer
Niklas Süle
Antonio Rüdiger
Christian Günter

Leon Goretzka
Joshua Kimmich

Serge Gnabry
Ilkay Gündogan
Jamal Musiala

Niclas Füllkrug
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