By Rune Gjerulff@runegjerulff

Flick explains decision to drop Goretzka and Werner

Hansi Flick has revealed why Leon Goretzka and Timo Werner are not in his squad for Germany's upcoming games.
Leon Goretzka.
Leon Goretzka.Photo: Steffen Prößdorf, CC BY-SA 4.0
Germany coach Hansi Flick has explained his decision to leave Leon Goretzka and Timo Werner out of his squad for the September friendlies against Japan and France.

"I spoke to [Goretzka] yesterday, he knows about my thoughts. It's nothing definitive. I appreciate Leon a lot, but we have our thoughts. We want to see a reaction from those who are not there," Flick is quoted as saying by Bild.

"Timo Werner is a player I really appreciate, who gives us a lot. At the moment, he's not quite in form at his club either, and he needs to work on certain things. I'm convinced that both he and Leon will return to the national team," the Germany coach added.

The likes of David Raum, Lukas Klostermann, Thilo Kehrer and Matthias Ginter have also been left out of the squad, while Pascal Gross has earned his first call-up.

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