Football national team
Havertz laments the lack of support from the Germans
Status: 5:30 p.m. | Reading time: 4 minutes
A lot of criticism: Too loud for Kai Havertz and not right
Quelle: Getty Images/Stuart Franklin
The performance of the German national team has given no cause for celebration for months. On the contrary. Nevertheless, offensive player Kai Havertz now criticizes that the fans would not stand by the team in this bad phase.
National player Kai Havertz has complained about the lack of support from the fans for the DFB selection. The German national team was on their own at the World Cup in Qatar at the end of 2022. “Even if I don’t include everyone,” said the Arsenal offensive player on Thursday before the test match this Saturday (8:45 p.m., in the WELT sports ticker) against Japan. “For us footballers, fans are extremely important, because of course that also gives us strength. When you saw what fans and support the other nations had. In my opinion, we were missing that a bit.”
Which in itself shouldn’t come as a surprise. As a reminder: After Hansi Flick took over as national coach in August 2021, the German team only won four in the following 16 games after eight wins at the start. Only one draw and three defeats have come out of the past four games.
Havertz, however, pursued his criticism undeterred. The fans are “the twelfth man” and give support, especially in bad phases. “And we didn’t feel it 100 percent every time,” said Havertz. “Nevertheless, we try to get the fans back on board with good performances and create euphoria again. That can only be achieved through victories.”
After the friendly against Japan, Germany will play France in Dortmund on Tuesday. “Even in bad phases, as a football player you need backing and support,” said Havertz, “to get out of the bad phase. There is no other way.” According to Havertz, the criticism of the past few months has “often not been rightly expressed”. “But we handled it well as a team,” said the 24-year-old. “We now go into the games to win them.”
also read
However, without offensive player Jamal Musiala, who will not be available in the game against France either. Due to back problems, the young FC Bayern star will not be able to travel to the team headquarters in Wolfsburg as originally planned. The 20-year-old attacking player, who is in rehab after tearing a muscle fiber, would not have played against Japan this Saturday anyway.
Who scores the goals? Havertz reacts sullenly
The problem position in the storm center of the German national team is “nothing bad” for Havertz. Everyone knows that “no matter where I play, I’ll give my all,” said the 24-year-old morosely about the discussion about who should score the urgently needed goals in the important mood test against Japan. National coach Hansi Flick still has several players to choose from for the “nine” after Niclas Füllkrug was out – but none is the ideal choice. An overview.
Havertz: The 24-year-old scored by far his most important goal for Chelsea in 2021 in the 1-0 win in the Champions League final. That being said, Havertz is not a born top scorer. He hasn’t scored in his first four games for London. “I’m so relaxed about it,” he said. “I know that there are such phases.”
Thomas Müller: The veteran and speaker with 121 caps (44 goals) was called up by Flick because of Füllkrug’s injury and can – if he’s in top form – play anywhere on the offensive. But Müller is not the classic target player in the front line. It works best with one like that next to it.
Serge Gnabry: The 28-year-old from FC Bayern has often played up front. 22 goals in 41 international matches is a very good rate. The fast offensive player is even more effective over the flank. In the center he is not a classic buyer of flanks.
Kevin Damage: The 21-year-old striker from Brentford FC has played 26 minutes as a national team player. In June, injury problems had kept him from further international matches.
Niclas jug: The newcomer to Dortmund has been sitting more or less in a good mood on the edge of the training ground in Wolfsburg over the past few days and was forced to watch because of his thigh injury. He left on Wednesday evening. The 30-year-old has scored seven goals in nine international matches since his first call-up. Nevertheless, Flick is not considered the striker’s biggest fan.
Away from the squad: Timo Werner had been supported and promoted by Flick for a long time. The RB Leipzig striker has been looking for form at the club for weeks. The 27-year-old can understand the non-appointment as a reminder. Borussia Dortmund’s Youssoufa Moukoko (18) and Karim Adeyemi (21) were also not nominated. Lukas Nmecha (24) from VfL Wolfsburg is injured for a longer period of time. Mergim Berisha (25), who switched from Augsburg to Hoffenheim, is still in Flick’s field of vision.
Here you will find content from Twitter
In order to display embedded content, your revocable consent to the transmission and processing of personal data is required, since the providers of the embedded content as third-party providers require this consent [In diesem Zusammenhang können auch Nutzungsprofile (u.a. auf Basis von Cookie-IDs) gebildet und angereichert werden, auch außerhalb des EWR]. By setting the switch to “on”, you agree to this (which can be revoked at any time). This also includes your consent to the transfer of certain personal data to third countries, including the USA, in accordance with Art. 49 (1) (a) GDPR. You can find more information about this. You can withdraw your consent at any time via the switch and via privacy at the bottom of the page.
The best German striker in the Bundesliga is currently Union Berlin’s Kevin Behrens (32) with four goals after three games. “I’m sure he’s on the list,” said teammate Robin Gosens.
also read
