Germany Watch: Squad predictions for Hansi Flick’s initial German national team roster

German national team manager Hansi Flick is expected to lean heavily on Bayern Munich to help fill out his first roster. Who will stay from the Euro roster? Who will go?

The first selection period is tough to predict because we simply do not know anything about what Flick system will use just yet. It can be assumed that we will be a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3, but it is also possible Flick will examine pool of players and think he needs a back-three.

Let’s take a look into the BFW Crystal Ball and see if we can get a bead on Germany’s roster for this international break. We used a 26-man roster for this round:

Attack — 10 players

• Thomas Müller, Bayern Munich
• Serge Gnabry, Bayern Munich
• Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich
• Leroy Sane, Bayern Munich
• Marco Reus, Borussia Dortmund
• Timo Werner, Chelsea FC
• Kai Havertz, Chelsea FC
• Jonas Hofmann, Borussia Mönchengladbach
• Karim Adeyemi, RB Salzburg
• Kevin Volland, AS Monaco

Other candidates:

• Julian Draxler, Paris Saint-Germain
• Julian Brandt, Borussia Dortmund
• Amine Younes, Eintracht Frankfurt
• Mario Götze, PSV Eindhoven

Summary: Adeyemi is the hot pick, but it would not be shocking to see Flick take any of the other candidates, who we do not have making the squad. Flick wants to be serious about building out the best German roster, while also using at least a few slots on young players to give them first-team training camp experience. Adeyemi could fit the bill in the attacking group.

Otherwise, the return of Reus seems like a no-brainer. We know Flick likes the versatility of Hofmann (who Flick might see as a right-back as well).

Midfield — 5 players

• Joshua Kimmich, Bayern Munich
• Leon Goretzka, Bayern Munich
• Florian Neuhaus, Borussia Mönchengladbach
• İlkay Gündoğan, Manchester City
• Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen

Other candidates:

• Emre Can, Borussia Dortmund

Summary: Somehow, midfield is a bit of a thin area for the Germans. Granted, Kimmich, Goretzka, and Gündoğan would likely eat up 95% of the available minutes anyway, but there are not a ton of worthy candidates. Players like Havertz and Hofmann could slide deeper if absolutely necessary, but it seems like Flick might go light in the midfield since there just will not be a ton of time to go around anyway. If Toni Kroos had not retired (and would have accepted a lesser role), there is no doubt Flick would have brought him back. Wirtz could find his way in the mix, but roster numbers are an issue.

Defense — 8 players

• Antonio Rudiger, Chelsea FC
• Niklas Süle, Bayern Munich
• Matthias Ginter, Borussia Mönchengladbach*
• Lukas Klostermann, RB Leipzig
• Marcel Halstenberg, RB Leipzig
• Robin Gosens, Atalanta
• Ridle Baku, Wolfsburg
• David Raum, Hoffenheim

Other candidates:

• Robin Koch, Leeds United*
• Philipp Max, PSV Eindhoven
• Christian Günter, SC Freiburg
• Nico Schulz, Borussia Dortmund
• Mats Hummels, Borussia Dortmund**
• Jerome Boateng, Free Agent

Summary: This will be an area where Flick can meld the old with the new. Boateng not currently being with a club, however, might have thrown a wrench into Flick’s plans. I believe that if Boateng had signed, Flick would have given him serious consideration. Otherwise, Flick will likely look to get Baku and Raum experience in the first-team camp, but will likely lean heavily in some of the leftovers from the Euros. If healthy, Hummels would have been the anchor to the backline — but it looks like he will be rested. From there, it is anyone’s guess how it shakes out. It is unclear if Flick views Klostermann as a player who slide into center-back. If so, that will help the squad’s depth. Halstenberg could potentially be left on the outside looking in as well should Flick opt for another player. I would not be surprised if Gosens is a shock drop, either. I could see Flick opting for Günter over the Atalanta man if it comes down to that as well, depending on what formation he will use.

*Ginter has tested positive for COVID-19, which could affect his status. Should Ginter not be selected, Robin Koch would be our pick.

**Hummels is out for this selection due to not being 100% while battling a lingering patella injury. Once fully healthy, it is assumed he will rejoin the squad.

Goalkeepers — 3 players

• Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich
• Marc-Andre ter Stegen, FC Barcelona***
• Bernd Leno, Arsenal

Other candidates:

• Kevin Trapp, Eintracht Frankfurt
• Stefan Ortega, Arminia Bielefeld

Summary: Neuer and Ter Stegen are shoo-ins, while the competition between Leno and Trapp is real. Leno is probably the leader in the clubhouse for the spot, but it would not be shocking for Flick to go in a different direction.

***If Ter Stegen is still battling fitness issues, we will likely see the Neuer-Leno-Trapp trio once more.