Germany predicted lineup vs France - International friendly
- Hansi Flick became first ever German national team manager to get sacked
- Rudi Voller will take charge of Tuesday's friendly against France
- Changes from Saturday's starting XI expected
The national team sank to such depths on Saturday night that Germany's FA was forced to take unprecedented action.
Never before had they sacked the leader of Die Mannschaft, but after Japan crushed Hansi Flick's side in Wolfsburg to extend Germany's winless run to five games, they had no choice but to part ways with the already under-fire manager.
Flick's departure means a familiar face will be in the home dugout on Tuesday night as France visit for a friendly. Rudi Voller won the World Cup in 1990 as a player before managing the national team for two major tournaments at the start of the 21st century.
The 63-year-old has been appointed interim boss after Flick's sacking, and here's how Germany could line up against Les Bleus on Voller's return.
Germany predicted lineup vs France (4-2-3-1)
GK: Marc-Andre ter Stegen - The Barcelona star kept the score down on Saturday. It could've been six or seven if it wasn't for a couple of outstanding Ter Stegen saves. He's one of few players who deserves to keep his place.
RB: Benjamin Henrichs - Flick had a bit of a nightmare with his full-backs throughout his tenure and attempted to deploy Joshua Kimmich in a messy inverted right-back role against Japan. It didn't work. Thus, Henrichs could make a rare international start.
CB: Malick Thiaw - There have got to be changes to Germany's defence and Thiaw deserves to earn his third German cap, coming in for the slow-turning Niklas Sule.
CB: Antonio Rudiger - If Germany are to play a high line and shackle opponents without the ball, Rudiger has a key role to play, especially against a speedy France on Tuesday.
LB: Robin Gosens - The Nico Schlotterbeck experiment was a disaster on Saturday and while Gosens has failed to find his best form for the national team, he'll almost certainly come back into the side on Tuesday.
CM: Joshua Kimmich - Thrust into a complex right-back role last time out, Voller must return to basics and utilise Kimmich in the double pivot. Germany needs its leaders right now.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan - Speaking of leaders, the new German skipper was a rare bright spark in Saturday's loss. He's been a model of consistency for both club and country for however many years now.
RM: Leroy Sane - Sane is one of several German forwards who have consistently underperformed for the national team in recent times. Nevertheless, the spritely winger has enjoyed a fine start to the season for Bayern Munich and there isn't an obvious replacement in the squad. Perhaps Jonas Hofmann is an alternative?
AM: Thomas Muller - Voller will be expected to bring in some tried and trusted veterans on Tuesday night, rendering Muller's inclusion a near inevitability after he came off the bench on Saturday.
LM: Kevin Schade - The Brentford forward has garnered just three German caps, but with Timo Werner absent, Schade could be the injection of pace Voller requires against the French.
ST: Serge Gnabry - Germany are desperately short of high-quality striking options, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Gnabry utilised up top in a fluid function. While the role perhaps doesn't get the best out of him, he may well be the most potent option Voller has with Kai Havertz struggling to contribute in a centre forward position against Japan.
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