Ronaldo goes for fifth (!) World Cup, Germany takes Götze to Qatar | Football

Ronaldo made his first appearance in Germany in 2006, and then took part in the World Cups in South Africa (2010), Brazil (2014) and Russia (2018). Portugal’s all-time top scorer has now scored 117 goals in 191 international matches. With his country, he won the 2016 European Championship and the Nations League final in 2019.

Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United attacker is joined in the Portuguese vanguard by João Félix and André Silva, among others. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes and defender Diogo Dalot can travel with Ronaldo from Old Trafford to Qatar. Perhaps something can be organized with the other club from Manchester, because Manchester City’s João Cancelo and Bernardo Silva are also part of the selection of national coach Fernando Santos. The same applies to Pepe (39), currently employed by FC Porto.

Germany

The 30-year-old Götze, who scored the winning goal in 2014 in the extra time of the World Cup final against Argentina, is part of the national selection for the first time since 2017. The attacking midfielder played for PSV for the last two years and returned to the Bundesliga this season at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Marco Reus is missing from the selection of national coach Hansi Flick due to an injury. The 33-year-old Borussia Dortmund attacker also missed the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European Championship due to an injury. Last year he skipped the postponed European Championship due to fatigue. “We are going to miss Marco, because we could have used his qualities well,” said Flick. “His recovery takes time. We have decided not to take a risk and not to select him.” Earlier, the attackers Timo Werner (RB Leipzig) and Lukas Nmecha (VfL Wolfsburg) already dropped out due to injuries.

Mario Götze has scored the winning goal in the World Cup final

Ⓒ Matty van Wijnbergen

Flick selected two debutants for the World Cup with 17-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko (Dortmund) and striker Niclas Füllkrug (Werder Bremen). Füllkrug has already scored ten goals in the Bundesliga this season. It earned the 29-year-old attacker an election for the World Cup.

No Hummels

The seasoned defender Mats Hummels, who has been a fixture in the German national team for years, did not receive a call-up. Flick prefers younger defenders. “Mats is in shape, top fit and important for his club Dortmund. However, we also look to the future and therefore take younger players with us,” said the national coach. Hummels (33) returned to the German selection for the European Championship last year after a few years of absence.

Drie keepers

The 26 players selected by Flick include three keepers: Manuel Neuer, Marc-André ter Stegen and Kevin Trapp. “We have considered taking four goalkeepers with us, but like some other countries, we opt for three.”

Japan, Spanje in Costa Rica

Germany will face Japan (November 23), Spain (November 27) and Costa Rica (December 1) in Qatar in Group E. The Germans conquered the world title in Brazil eight years ago, but were already eliminated in the group stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

German national coach Flick: do not hide from abuses in Qatar

The German footballers are going for the world title at the World Cup, but they also want to raise the human rights situation in Qatar during the global final round. “We must keep our ears and eyes open and not hide,” said national coach Hansi Flick when presenting his selection. “We want to bring the abuses clearly to the attention.”

The German football association DFB, like the Dutch KNVB, is part of the European working group that has been drawing attention to the situation in Qatar for some time, together with human rights organizations among others. Last week, that working group repeated the message that the member countries will continue to do so during the tournament. World football association FIFA had just sent a letter to the World Cup participants to only talk about football in Qatar.

“Of course it is very important that we focus on the sporting aspect, that is also important for the players,” said Flick. “But at the same time, we also want to speak out clearly about the human rights situation in Qatar.” Federal president Bernd Neuendorf is responsible for socio-political issues during the World Cup.

Flick heard Qatari World Cup ambassador Khalid Salman describe homosexuality as “mental damage” in a documentary by the German channel ZDF this week. The national coach said he was generally “speechless and stunned” by “things that are happening in Qatar.”