Injury woes hit Germany: Jamal Musiala out, Thomas Muller returns

Coach Hansi Flick had initially named the 20-year-old in his 24-man squad for Saturday's friendly against Japan in Wolfsburg and next Tuesday's encounter with France in Dortmund. However, Germany confirmed via their Twitter feed that Musiala would miss both fixtures, having not even travelled with the squad to Wolfsburg.

This injury comes on the heels of Musiala's absence from Bayern's last two Bundesliga matches due to a hamstring issue. Known as a vital part of Flick's line-up, Musiala has already earned 23 international caps since his debut in March 2021.

Unfortunately, Musiala isn't the only German player on the injury list. Niclas Fullkrug suffered a "slight tendon strain" during training, making him a doubt for the Japan clash. In response, Thomas Muller, who hadn't been called up to the senior squad for nine months, has been drafted in to provide additional attacking options.

Without Musiala, the likes of Muller, Kai Havertz, Pascal Gross, and Florian Wirtz are in contention for the number 10 role, with Havertz possibly taking the central striker role against Japan.

Germany are eager to break a four-game winless streak, facing a Japan side that memorably defeated them 2-1 at the 2022 World Cup. As the team face these challenges, they will rely on their depth and experience to secure a much-needed victory.