Berlin – AFP
Germany coach Hansie Flick has dropped defender Mats Hummels from the squad to face Romania and North Macedonia in the European qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup as the Germans want to achieve two victories to qualify for the World Cup.
The German team leads Group X by four points ahead of its closest rivals, and can decide its qualification for the final by beating Romania in Hamburg on October 8, after which it moves to northern Macedonia three days later.
Flick recalled seniors Thomas Mல்லller, goalkeeper Mark-Andre Der Stegen and Matthias Zinder on his 23-man squad, and said Hummels was ruled out due to the need to rest due to knee problems.
“Everyone knows the potential of mats when he’s 100 percent ready,” Flick said.
Manchester City midfielder Ilke Gundogan, Italian Atlanta defender Ruben Cosens and Dortmund defender Mahmoud Dawood have been ruled out of the final due to injury.
After beating Armenia 6-0 and Iceland 4-0 in qualifying last month, Flick expects a resounding performance in the two matches he has been waiting for to become four-time world champions in the final.
The German route added: “We have four points difference and we want to build it and qualify as soon as possible.”