Germany boss Hansi Flick can field an XI of only Premier League and Championship players at the Qatar World Cup. Die Mannschaft have some top talents in England like Kai Havertz.
The Nationalelf will head to Qatar this November and December striving to win a fifth title. Brazil are the only nation with crowns from five World Cups to date. But Germany and Italy sit within a title, having last won the global FIFA tournament in 2014 and 2006 respectively.
France are the defending champions after Les Bleus won a second title in Russia four years ago. Four of the players Didier Deschamps started in the final with Croatia came from sides in the 2017/18 Premier League in Paul Pogba, N’Golo Kante, Olivier Giroud and Hugo Lloris.
Players from a raft of Premier League clubs will now hope to follow in Pogba, Kante, Giroud and Lloris’ footsteps at the Qatar World Cup. Chelsea midfielder Havertz will also expect to start for Germany in the Middle East having been a vital part of Flick’s plans as their coach.
Die Mannschaft start their tournament in Group E against Japan on November 23. FIFA has drawn Germany beside 2010 champions Spain in the headline fixture for the first round of the Qatar World Cup on November 27. Flick’s side will also face Costa Rica on December 1.
Havertz may not be the only Premier League or Championship player Flick calls on through the Qatar World Cup to feature for Germany. So with that in mind, HITC Football has taken a look at a potential XI the Mannschaft boss could name from talents in England’s top tiers…
Bernd Leno (GK): Fulham star will hope to earn his Germany recall at the World Cup
Bernd Leno will hope Flick recalls him to the Germany side for the World Cup in Qatar. The Fulham goalkeeper has not been in Die Mannschaft’s last three teams. The 30-year-old has not featured for Germany since September 2021 and last made a squad in that November.
But since leaving Arsenal for Craven Cottage in an £8m move this August, Leno is again the number one for his team. He only played four Premier League games with the Gunners last term. Yet Leno is again displaying his quick reflexes and strong one-on-one skills in the net.
Thilo Kehrer (RB): West Ham ace can bring versatility to Germany at the World Cup
Thilo Kehrer can bring versatility to Flick’s Germany side at the Qatar World Cup. The West Ham United defender is adept at featuring from centre-half or right-back and can also plug a gap in central midfield. Flick has also tasked the 26-year-old with playing at left-back, too.
Fick recalled Kehrer to the Germany fold in September 2021 for his first cap in a year. The £10m former Paris Saint-Germain enforcer has not missed any of Die Mannschaft’s squads since. He has also started 12 of their 15 games since Flick replaced Joachim Low in 2021.
Jordan Beyer (CB): Burnley talent should be on Flick’s radar ahead of Qatar 2022
Jordan Beyer should be on Flick’s radar ahead of Qatar 2022 with the 22-year-old holding a key role at Burnley. Vincent Kompany hired the Borussia Monchengladbach product for the season in September. Beyer has since started four of an available six Championship games.
The deadline day addition wasted no time in ousting Charlie Taylor from Kompany’s plans. Beyer has stood out at Turf Moor with his ability on the ball and defensive awareness. The youth international is likely now ready for a senior chance after caps at all U16 to 21 levels.
Armel Bella-Kotchap (CB): Flick gave the Southampton ace his debut in September
Flick gave Armel Bella-Kotchap his Germany debut in September after an impressive start at Southampton. Ralph Hasenhuttl paid VfL Bochum £10m in June for the 20-year after 74 first-team games. The Saints’ move has proven to be very successful for the St Mary’s side.
Bella-Kotchap had no issues adapting to the pace and intensity of the Premier League after arriving from the Bundesliga. He has shown he has the physical presence to withstand the competition in England. But he may face up to eight weeks out with a dislocated shoulder.
Robin Koch (LB): Leeds star can shut out the Premier League’s best
Robin Koch has proven he can shut out the Premier League’s best strikers at Leeds United. Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has been a sensation since switching from Manchester City in the summer. Yet the Brazilian had no joy when his Gunners side won 1-0 at Elland Road.
Jesus’ impact disappeared as Koch marked the forward out of the match, as he did against Chelsea’s attackers, as well. Jesse Marsch has relied on Koch to offer a frequently brilliant presence in West Yorkshire as the 26-year-old, eight-cap enforcer rarely puts a foot wrong.
Reda Khadra (CM): Sheffield United loanee can offer superb attacking versatility
Reda Khadra can give Flick great attacking versatility at the World Cup if the Germany boss looks into the Championship. The 21-year-old can feature in an attacking midfield area and on either wing. He can also offer a goal threat off the bench without much time in fixtures.
Ilkay Gundogan (CM): Man City star will be a key part of Germany’s World Cup squad
Ilkay Gundogan will be a key player in Germany’s team at the World Cup in Qatar from the Premier League. The 62-cap midfielder has only failed to feature in Flick’s plans through an injury to date. He also gives Die Mannschaft a leader and a goal threat in the engine room.
Vitaly Janelt (CM): Flick should consider the Brentford ace for a Germany debut
Flick should be considering offering Vitaly Janelt his Germany debut at the World Cup after his Premier League performances with Brentford. The 24-year-old has earned caps for Die Mannschaft at U15, 17, 19, 20 and 21 levels but has not played for his country since 2021.
The Hamburg native could offer Flick a deep-lying option in Qatar who is capable of getting up the field and impacting matches. Janelt has shone under Thomas Frank as a box-to-box talent through his strong pressing ability, high energy, defensive acumen and fearlessness.
Kai Havertz (RAM): Premier League player should start for Germany at the World Cup
Chelsea ace Havertz should represent at least one Premier League player in the Germany XI at the World Cup. He has been instrumental to Flick’s plans as Die Mannschaft’s boss with five goals in 12 games. The 30-cap star struck his last two during a 3-3 draw with England.
Pascal Gross (LAM): Brighton dynamo will wonder if a Germany cap will ever come
Pascal Gross will wonder if a Germany cap will ever come his way if Flick does not reward his Premier League form at the World Cup. The Brighton & Hove Albion maestro played for his country at U18, 19 and 20 levels but is still yet to make a senior outing at 31 years old.
The Mannheim-born star has regularly been a creative threat on the south coast since his Premier League debut in 2017. He has scored and created multiple goals in every season he has played in. Gross has also played and impacted games from almost all midfield roles.
Deniz Undav (ST): Premier League lacks a prolific German player at striker
The Premier League lacks a prolific German player at striker for Flick to consider ahead of the Qatar World Cup. Deniz Undav might have felt his debut at any level could have been possible this term after joining Brighton & Hove Albion for £6m from Union Saint-Gilloise.
Brighton secured a deal for Undav in January before he arrived at the Amex Stadium over the summer. Graham Potter sought his services whilst in charge on the south coast amid the 26-year-old producing a 27-goal and 13-assist campaign across 41 games last season.
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