Tuesday, May 11, 2021
DFB comeback after two years
Yes, but where should Thomas Müller play?
By Tobias Nordmann
National coach Joachim Löw has apparently given Thomas Müller the signal to return to the German national soccer team. This is of course a very understandable decision in terms of sport, but it can also become a problem.
When Joachim Löw is asked about his luxury problem, he goes into raptures. Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, İlkay Gündoğan and Toni Kroos – yes, that’s great, emphasizes the national coach. And he sees no problem in the fact that there are only three places in his system for the four outstanding footballers. In the central midfield, this usually consists of a more defensive part, usually Kimmich. There the eternally gallant driver is indispensable, a transfer back to the right-back is a charming idea (there is definitely a need there), but not expedient for the success of the DFB team.
In front of the defensive Kimmich, there are two more offensive players. The choice then falls either on the dynamic power tower Goretzka – which, however, will probably miss at least the EM gallop due to a torn muscle fiber – or on the more strategic Kroos and Gündoğan. Kai Havertz would also be an option, but recently he got his chances on the offensive flanks or as a striker.
Yes, that is a lot of luxury that Löw has there. More than any other position on the national soccer team. Take out the goalkeepers. There the density of world class with Manuel Neuer and Marc-André ter Stegen is even a little bigger. And with Bernd Leno and Kevin Trapp as options behind it also still splendid. Now Löw’s luxury could increase a little at the upcoming EM, his last mission for the DFB. Because as the “Bild” now reports, the national coach Thomas Müller has signaled that he should be ready for further tasks with FC Bayern after the end of the season. So this means: return to the DFB team after more than two years.
The DFB is not FC Bayern
In terms of sport, the decision is of course completely undisputed. Müller has been playing outstandingly for more than a year and a half. That is very closely related to coach Hansi Flick. After grueling years and being demoted by Niko Kovac, he had made him an intangible miller thomas again. He had entrusted him again with the role that he can do best: Flick had entrusted Müller with the room behind Robert Lewandowski. A room for special tasks. Special tasks that only a Thomas Müller can solve with his game, which cannot actually be defined. 15 goals and 22 assists in 44 competitive games, that’s a record that is indispensable for the national team.
But is Thomas Müller with his role as Thomas Müller also indispensable for the national team? Because in fact it only works so well if you let it play like the Munich team do. But this position does not exist in the Löw system. And that could well be a problem. It is neither as dynamic as Goretzka, nor as strategic as Kroos and Gündoğan. He is the free-spirited crawling cat, always on the move, tactically with his strengths not to be forced into a tight corset. So what’s left? Sure, the offensive flanks (right) or the storm center. The 31-year-old has already played both positions at FC Bayern, albeit with manageable success.
On the right (left is out of the question) the place is occupied by his Munich team-mate Serge Gnabry, who received a guarantee from Löw. Nobody else in the squad except Neuer can be as sure of his place as the winger. In the center of the storm, however, the situation is somewhat different. Timo Werner was long considered the man of choice there. But he struggles with form and, above all, with consistency at Chelsea. This also had consequences for the DFB team, where Löw recently did without his striker’s starting eleven.
At the EM, however, he will hardly do that, because there is no really good alternative. She’s not Müller either. Kevin Volland would be one, but he still doesn’t play a role, despite another strong season, meanwhile at AS Monaco. The increasingly form-strong Dortmund captain Marco Reus feels more comfortable as a Second Striker or Left Winger. There the competition is already big: Leroy Sané is set, behind Reus there are also Julian Draxler and Julian Brandt, who were not considered recently.
Leadership and volume of “Radio Müller”
What speaks for Müller, however, for his indispensability in the DFB team: He brings leadership and above all volume with him. Two things that have been missing from the national coach for a long time. The silence of men had become a big issue in the past year. “Radio Müller” would be the perfect solution to this problem. Incidentally, the 31-year-old played his 100th and so far last international match (38 goals) on November 19, 2018 in the Nations League against the Netherlands (2-2), before he was knocked out together with Jérôme Boateng and Mats Hummels in March 2019. At that time, Müller came on for Gnabry, played right winger – and that without any memorable proof of work.
But that is not the standard. Because Müller, as a marauder, can do one thing better than probably any other player in the national team: He can guide a mercilessly effective pressing. He has been orchestrating impressively at FC Bayern for months. Well, there is only one question left: where should he go, Thomas Müller?
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