Matthäus on BVB duo: praise and criticism for Nmecha and Schlotterbeck | OneFootball

Lothar Matthäus is thrilled. Asked about his personal shooting star at the World Cup, the 65-year-old makes up his mind. His pick is a Borussia Dortmund pro.

“I won’t go for a very young player this time,” Matthäus explained, according to SPORT BILD. He then launched into real praise for Felix Nmecha. The qualities of the 25-year-old Dortmund player have clearly made a strong impression on the current TV pundit. “I believe Nmecha is a player who can really explode at this World Cup for me,” the record Germany international is convinced.

Matthäus was practically raving as he spoke about the BVB player’s strengths. “I’ve said it before, that I see him as one of the best box-to-box players,” he explained in support of his choice. In the view of the former Bayern pro, Nmecha possesses exactly the qualities that can decide matches at a major tournament. According to him, the 25-year-old stands out through his enormous work rate, toughness in challenges, and eye for goal. Attributes that have now made him a mainstay in the DFB team’s midfield.

BVB duo in line to start against Curaçao

However, Matthäus ties his prediction to how Germany perform: “If the German national team goes far in this tournament,” the 65-year-old pointed out. Reaching the knockout stage would inevitably catapult Nmecha onto the very biggest international stage. But he also sees room for improvement. According to Matthäus, the midfielder needs to “find his defensive positioning more precisely more often.”

Photo: Getty Images

The 1991 World Player of the Year, on the other hand, was critical of another Dortmund World Cup participant. Although Nico Schlotterbeck “always plays with great heart,” he is “always at risk of a second yellow” or of conceding a penalty.

Both BVB pros are expected to be first choice for Germany’s World Cup opener against Curaçao on Sunday (14 June, 19:00 CEST).

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.