European Football Championship Nagelsmann plans with Rüdiger – No info on striker question
Antonio Rüdiger (2nd from left) is expected to be in the starting eleven against Denmark. Photo
© Bernd Thissen/dpa
Julian Nagelsmann can rely on defensive leader Antonio Rüdiger against Denmark – as things stand now. The national coach does not want to comment on another personnel matter, although he has made a decision.
Julian Nagelsmann is planning to use the recently injured Antonio Rüdiger in defence in the European Championship round of 16 match of the national football team against Denmark. The national coach did not want to reveal at the press conference on the evening before the match whether Kai Havertz or Niclas Füllkrug will continue to be in the starting eleven in attack on Saturday (9 p.m./ZDF/Magenta TV) in Dortmund.
“He is very important for us. The doctors have done everything to get him fit. He looks as if he is fit. If nothing happens, he can play tomorrow,” said Nagelsmann about Rüdiger’s fitness. The 31-year-old defense chief returned to team training on Friday after straining his thigh. With muscle injuries, we will have to wait and see what happens after the first training session, Nagelsmann admitted. The trend is for Rüdiger to play. His partner in central defense is likely to be Nico Schlotterbeck, who is set to replace the suspended Jonathan Tah.
No information on Havertz or Füllkrug
Nagelsmann responded rather harshly to the question of whether Havertz or Füllkrug would play in the center of the attack. “I have made my decision, but I will not tell them,” noted the national coach. He had “not followed the media discussion about the personnel issue at all” and he had “enough to do.” “We are the coaching team, we decide who plays,” stressed the 36-year-old.
Nagelsmann had previously relied on Havertz in attack at the home European Championships, leaving the Dortmund player Füllkrug, who is particularly popular with the fans, with only the role of backup. Füllkrug scored as a substitute in the opening 5-1 win against Scotland, as well as against Switzerland, when he scored the 1-1 goal in injury time.
dpa
#Subjects
