Flick criticizes Nations League dates – “Four games are just too many”
Whistles from Hungary fans? “Trivialities that don’t matter”
The German national team meets Hungary in the Nations League. National coach Hansi Flick does not want to give a high priority to a possible heated atmosphere in Budapest before the game.
After a strenuous season, the national soccer players still have to play games in the Nations League. National coach Flick sees a stress problem – and takes Fifa and Uefa to task.
Bundestrainer Hansi Flick is critical of the four international matches within ten days, also with a view to the following World Cup season. “Four games are just too many after such a long season,” said Flick on Friday in Herzogenaurach. The DFB selection plays Hungary this Saturday (8.45 p.m., RTL) in Budapest and three days later in Mönchengladbach against Italy. The game at the European champions in Bologna last Saturday and the game against England the following Tuesday in Munich ended 1-1.
“You also have to pack up the two years. We had a pandemic, so many games were postponed,” said Flick. “We had a lot of English weeks, a short summer break for the players. Then you have almost no preparation, then you get back into everyday life in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.”
Fifa and Uefa on duty
The top players are challenged “every three or four days” until the start of the World Cup in Qatar on November 21st. “You should take care of it and question how you can give the players a break,” said Flick, and called on the world association Fifa and the European football union Uefa to do their bit. The experts should “investigate things and come up with some actions.”
Thomas Müller said cautiously: “It’s just the way it is. That’s our job that we have to do.” The game calendar is not “a pipe dream”, but it has to be realized “somehow” that the games will take place.
Thomas Müller (left) and national coach Hansi Flick in the national team’s training camp before the start of the Nations League in Marbella
Quelle: picture alliance/dpa
In order to keep the stress as low as possible for his kicking staff, Flick could rotate. However, he probably plans fewer changes than in the two starting formations against England and Italy. Goalkeeper and captain Manuel Neuer was the only one who received a public guarantee from the national coach for the game against Hungary. “We will not make any changes there,” said Flick.
Werner back in the starting XI?
The use of offensive player Serge Gnabry is questionable because of muscular problems in the calf. The Bayern professional completed only one running session on Friday. Like Timo Werner, he came on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw against England on Tuesday. According to Flick, Werner is again a starting option for the top attacking position: “He’s someone who scores goals up front, who has a good quota.”
“We want to get three points. We want to reward ourselves in the next two games for the effort we always put in,” explained the coach. It’s good “when you’re used to it”.
:quality(85)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/infobae/VTKS5RLJAZBGVBP5UEEWDAGLTY.jpg?fit=300%2C300&ssl=1)
