Mats Hummels news: Lothar Matthaus thinks defender is not fit for the German national team anymore

The German team under head coach Hansi Flick likes to play a high line and Hummels' lack of pace could prove to be an Achilles heel.

Germany defender Mats Hummels; Credit: Twitter/@matshummels
By Sreejith C R | Mar 31, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Mats Hummels was a key player for the German national team for almost a decade and the central defender played a pivotal role in the teams 2014 FIFA World Cup triumph in Brazil. He is seen as one of the best modern-day centre-backs in world football. However, Lothar Matthaus believes the 33-year-old’s time with the Die Mannschaft might be coming to an end. 

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“Mats Hummels is currently falling behind a bit. Especially when you consider that Hansi Flick, like Bayern, lets you press high, wants to win the ball quickly and generally needs players who have speed. The pace isn’t Mats’ greatest strength anymore, and unfortunately he was injured for a long time,” said Matthaus on Sky. 

The Borussia Dortmund defender has been doing a fine job for his club but is going to face strong competition from the likes of SC Freiburg’s Nico Schlotterbeck, Chelsea’s Antonio Rudiger and Bayern Munich’s Sule for a spot in Germany’s World Cup squad.

Hummels is one of the best ball playing centre-backs in world football who can carry the ball forward with ease, has excellent ball distribution skills and is supremely brilliant when it comes to reading the game. But the former Bayern Munich player is not the quickest footballer. 

The German team under head coach Hansi Flick likes to play a high line and Hummels’ lack of pace could prove to be an Achilles heel. He is short on pace and recent injuries have added to his problems. After a disastrous group-stage exit in the 2018 World Cup the four-time world champions are going through a rebuilding process under Flick . Since the 57-year-old took charge of the team, Germany won seven times out of seven matches. 

Hummels’ time with the national team might be coming to an end, especially with the rejuvenation of the team and new debutants  being introduced. The World Cup is seven months away and Hummels still has time to impress Flick. 

Flick had earlier warned Hummels that he is in danger of missing out on a place in the squad for Qatar 2022. He last played for Germany in a 2-0 defeat to England in the last-16 of Euro 2020 in June.

Hummels has made 76 appearances for Germany and Flick has left the door open should the Dortmund defender prove his form. Flick replaced Joachim Low as head coach of Germany in September.