Joachim Löw speaks: conditions for the return of Bayern Munich’s Thomas Müller & Jerome Boateng, his choice for successor

Amidst a future turnover in staff, the German national team is set to play World Cup qualifying games this week against Iceland, Romania, and North Macedonia. They will be doing so without three of the best players they could choose from.

Among them, Bayern Munich’s Jerome Boateng and Thomas Müller have received greater calls for a return to Die Mannschaft as their form continues to skyrocket. The third member, former Bayern and current Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels has not received similar attention — but that doesn’t mean he isn’t being considered.

According to Abendzeitung, Müller and Hummels are currently in higher favor than Boateng, with Löw saying this regarding the question to add all three of them:

When asked whether the door was open to Bayern attacker Müller and Dortmund defender Hummels, Löw replied: “We always talk about three players. You just have to see in which position we need a possible reinforcement, one A player who may be able to lead the others in that part of the team.”

Regardless of who will be brought back into the team, Löw will reportedly require one thing from any and all of them — something that might be a tough ask: Leadership.

“You have to challenge our team, which is now together in March, again and suggest things to them what we need now for the tournament,” said Löw at Bayern 1 on the program “Heute im Stadion”. With a view to the squad for the European Championship in summer, he added on Saturday: “Then you have to see which position we can perhaps fill even better - and what else do we need in terms of leadership.”

Additionally, Löw gave his personal endorsement for Hansi Flick to replace him as the next manager of the German national team. The manager said that Flick had “excellent prerequisites” for the job. Whether or not this will actually materialize is a different story, as Abendzeitung has previously reported that Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge will not allow for his current manager to leave for the DFB.