Germany’s striker issues ahead of 2022 World Cup
Germany head coach Hansi Flick has striking issues to contend with before announcing his 2022 World Cup roster on Thursday
After losing first-choice striker Timo Werner to an ankle injury, Germany head coach Hansi Flick will also be unable to call upon the services of Lukas Nmecha. A knee injury has put paid to the Wolgsburg striker’s hopes of featuring for the four-time world champions in Qatar and will keep him on the sidelines for the next few weeks.
Everything now points to Youssoufa Moukoko of Borussia Dortmund and Werder Bremen’s Niclas Füllkrug being picked to go the World Cup. The 17-year-old Dortmund prodigy has scored six goals in 13 Bundesliga games this season, while Füllkrug, who has yet to make his debut for the national team, is the top German scorer in the competition with 10 goals. In addition, Flick can call upon versatile attackers such as Serge Gnabry and the fit-again Thomas Müller, who have already proven that they are capable of playing the false nine role in the German team.
Germany attack heavily dependent on Bayern Munich at 2022 World Cup
What will be especially pleasing for Flick is that his Bayern Munich contingent look to be heading to the World Cup in top form. The devastating Gnabry netted a hat-trick in the Tuesday’s 6-1 thrashing of Bremen, while Jamal Musiala and Leon Goretzka scored a goal each. It now looks likely that that trio, along with clubmate Leroy Sané, will be leading the line for Germany following the raft of injuries that will prevent Flick from fielding his preferred starting eleven in the group stages, in which Germany will face Japan (Wednesday, 23 November), Spain (Sunday, 27 November) and Costa Rica (Thursday, 1 December).