Bayern lynchpins Neuer and Muller in fitness race ahead of Germany Football World Cup duty
Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller – the mainstays of the German national team for the past decade – are trying to prove their fitness with just three weeks left until the FIFA World Cup kicks off. Neither player is physically fit for Saturday’s Bundesliga game against Mainz, Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed at a press conference on Friday. Qatar FIFA World Cup fans to buy Spain Vs Germany Tickets from our website.
Goalkeeper Neuer is still plagued with shoulder problems, attacking midfielder Muller has a hip problem and Nagelsmann doesn’t know when the pair will return to the club.
As the former Bayern coach finalizes his plans for Qatar in the 2022 finals, the news will inevitably cause concern for German boss Hansi Flick.
Muller came half an hour off the bench on Wednesday in Bayern’s 3-0 win over Barcelona, but the 33-year-old was completely risk-free against Mainz and will almost certainly follow in the Champions League with Inter Milan missing Tuesday too.
“His hip was inflamed again, in the pelvic area,” Nagelsmann said.
“He won’t be able to play, maybe not even on Tuesday. We might have to take him out for a week to give him a break.
“Thomas is in a good mood. Yesterday we spoke to several medical professionals and tried to understand everything better, but it hasn’t really changed.”
“It’s also not something that can be solved with painkillers. It feels blocked and it’s hard to define how the pain manifests. I decided it would be better for him to stop for a while.”
“Saturday is the kind of game where you have to give everything, even for 10 or 15 minutes, so if we give him 10 or 15 minutes, he might have to stop the next game. We’ve got to watch and see how it develops and how it reacts.”
“Now it’s important not to keep testing it blindly, but to let it cool down a bit and see how it responds and then see how it recovers.”
Bayern, 36, and German captain Neuer have not played an active role since Bayern’s 2-2 draw against Borussia Dortmund on October 8.
It was clear to Nagelsmann that keeping Neuer healthy is not only a priority for Bayern but also a matter of national importance.
There are currently no commitments, but Nagelsmann hopes Neuer can return to Hertha Berlin next weekend.
“I’m not a mystic who can see the future,” Nagelsmann said. “We had him in the game against Dortmund, maybe it was too early and now he’s out for a few games.”
Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann
“It’s hard for me to know how to deal with pain. It’s a structural part of the body that takes time to heal and a joint needs a little rest, so if you’re constantly testing it and putting a load on it, it can be hard.”
“I expected him to be ready for the World Cup, but I’m not a clairvoyant. We will do everything we can to get him ready for the World Cup.”
Bayern hosted Mainz on Saturday, who led last season in the Allianz Arena but then lost 2-1. Mainz, however, defeated Bayern twice in the past two seasons, both times with a home advantage. FIFA World Cup 2022 fans can buy Costa Rica Vs Germany Tickets from our website.
Of the teams currently on top, only Augsburg has also scored six points in their last three games against Bayern – and no team has done more.
Going into this encounter, both Bayern and Mainz have won their last two games. Each scored seven goals and got a clean sheet – a league highlight for this period. Mainz is also at the top of the away game this season, with 12 points from six away games and sees them as a threat.
Nevertheless, Bayern is only one point behind early league leaders Union Berlin this weekend, who will have to wait until Sunday to face Borussia Monchengladbach.
“We have a good time now,” said Nagelsmann. “We seemed like a close team against Barcelona, they all have the same goals. The team has a good relationship with each other.”
Random Germany has a score to resolve at FIFA World Cup
Berlin: After a disastrous World Cup as defending champions four years ago. Germany travels to Qatar for the first time since 2008 with a new coach for a major tournament.
Few know what to expect from the four-time champion and Hansi Flick’s record. Since he took over from Joachim Loew in 2021 doesn’t give much hope.
Germany has won just one of their last seven games – a 5-2 win over weaker Italy. Many of the team’s problems came to the fore in their home defeat to Hungary and a happy 3-3 draw to England.
The German had a lot of ball possession against Hungary but struggled to create good chances against a hard-working defence. Against England, the team collapsed after a two-goal lead and thanked Kai Havertz for the equalizing goal in the 87th minute.
In Group E of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Germany will face Japan, Spain, and Costa Rica. All three can be encouraged by noting that the German has conceded in each of his last seven games under Flick.
Germany will take on Oman in a warm-up game on November 16. But the game in Muscat is mainly about acclimatizing players before the game in Qatar.
Flick is restarting
Flick, who enjoyed a trophies-filled time at Bayern Munich, would usher in a new era for Germany. After Low’s disappointing reign at last year’s European Championship. Loew’s 16-year tenure ended with a 2-0 loss to England in the second round of Euro 2020. Which was delayed by the pandemic.
Some feel it should have ended sooner. Loew’s high point led Germany to a World Cup title in Brazil in 2014. But the low came four years later, with the defending champion being eliminated in the group stage. After losing to South Korea in the Russian Championship.
Although Flick started with eight wins, including in World Cup qualifiers. They faced Armenia, Liechtenstein, North Macedonia and Iceland – teams expected to beat.
So far, there are few signs that Flick has improved the team he inherited in any way. After the last World Cup, Loew has given up on his planned team restructuring. He looks back at Thomas Muller and Mats Hummels at Euro 2020.
Muller remains a key player for Flick, but Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos has retired, leaving Bayern duo Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka to take the lead, while Ilkay Gundogan is another option.
Desired goals
Germany has attacking problems and Timo Werner’s failed spell at Chelsea seems to have had a lasting impact following his move to Leipzig. Werner, 26, was urged to “shoot more” by Leipzig coach Marco Ross.
The flick will have to find similar ways to convince a striker who often scores for Germany without scoring.
There have been calls for Werder Bremen striker Niclas Fullkrug to be included in the Qatar roster due to the lack of outspoken strikers in Germany. The 29-year-old Fullkrug is the Bundesliga’s top scorer with eight goals in 11 appearances and scored 19 goals in the Bundesliga last season. Fullkrug also plays well with his teammates from Bremen and shows that he can adapt quickly to the national team.
A positive for Germany, judging by recent matches, is 19-year-old Bayern striker Jamal Musiala, who has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting rookies in European football. Musiala could have played for England and he brought an unpredictable element to the German game.
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