Could Jamal Musiala start over for Hansi Flick as Germany continue their quest for a 2022 FIFA World Cup berth when they host Romania in qualifying on Friday (kick off: 8:45 p.m. CEST)?
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Musiala, 18, got an assist in his only senior start so far for Die Mannschaft as they beat Liechtenstein 2-0 in Flick’s opener after taking over from Joachim Löw. The Bayern Munich midfielder has made a great start to the season under Flick’s successor Julian Nagelsmann, with four goals in 10 competitive appearances and outstanding performances. The same goes for another teenager, Florian Wirtz, at Bayer Leverkusen. He has also been a member of the senior national team since UEFA Euro 2020 and has played a direct role in at least one goal in his eight club appearances this season, scoring six goals and five assists in the Bundesliga. The big team news for the October internationals was that Mats Hummels had rested as he continued his comeback from a knee injury. Captain Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller remain seasoned international experts in a team of youth and experience as the four-time world champions look to build on their 4-0 victory in Iceland a month ago, with four games to go .
Romania are currently third in Group J, five points behind Germany but only one behind Armenia in second. They are heading to the Volksparkstadion in Hamburg for this game after a goalless draw in North Macedonia during the last international break. Dragos Nedelcu is the only member of the visiting team to ply his trade in Germany, starting four games at center-back at Fortuna Düsseldorf in Bundesliga 2 this season. Playmaker Alexandru Maxim is one of the senior members of this Romanian squad and a familiar face to Bundesliga viewers after 165 league appearances for Mainz and VfB Stuttgart in seven years. The tricolor are still to beat Die Mannschaft in three competitive matches or win against them on German soil. They lost the second leg in qualifying 1-0 in Bucharest after Serge Gnabry’s 16th-minute goal in March.
To concern: Tactical analysis of the Wunderkind Florian Wirtz
Match statistics
- In Wirtz, Musiala, Karim Adeyemi and Nico Schlotterbeck, Flick has called four players still eligible for the German U21s.
- Wirtz has contributed six goals and five assists for Leverkusen this season at the rate of one in every 47 minutes he has played.
- Germany have a perfect record of three games played, three won, 12 goals scored and none conceded since Flick took over from Löw as manager.
- Bayern midfielder Leon Goretzka contributed four assists under Flick’s reign, equaling the goal involvement of Chelsea striker Timo Werner (two goals, two assists).
- Germany leads Romania in their all-time duels with nine wins to two, with three draws. Die Mannschaft have scored 39 goals in their encounters, conceding 18.
- Nedelcu is the only Romanian currently playing in Germany, along with Düsseldorf. Maxim has already made 140 Bundesliga appearances with Stuttgart and Mainz.
Likely queues
Germany: Neuer (c) – Hofmann, Süle, Rüdiger, Kehrer – Kimmich, Goretzka – Sane, Müller, Gnabry – Werner
Outside: –
Doubtful: –
Coach: Hansi Film
Romania: Nita – Manea, Chiriches (c), Nedelcearu, Tosca – Nedelcu, Stanciu – Hagi, Cicaldau, Maxim – Keseru
Outside: –
Doubtful: –
Coach: Mirel Radoi
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