Kostic and Kamada heat up competition at Eintracht Frankfurt | hessenschau.de
Filip Kostic and Daichi Kamada are fit again and are back in Eintracht Frankfurt’s starting XI ahead of the home game against VfL Wolfsburg. The possibilities on the offensive are increasing, but there are also those who have been left behind.
When the final game was due to start in Eintracht Frankfurt training on Wednesday, there was no more room for Erik Durm and Aymen Barkok. Since coach Oliver Glasner ordered an eleven against eleven, but there were exactly two field players too many in front of him, he sent the 2014 world champion and Frankfurt’s home-grown player, who had just returned from the Africa Cup, to the neighboring field. Solitary goal-shooting practice instead of real football was on the program for the reserve duo from then on. It can go that fast.
Kostic and Kamada fit again
As little as this measure was edifying for Durm and Barkok, this short-term degradation is ultimately positive for Eintracht. Before the home game on Saturday (3.30 p.m.) against VfL Wolfsburg, the last Hessians, who were hit by numerous surprises and corona infections, have an oversupply on the flanks, in the center and on the offensive. The absence of Makoto Hasebe in defense is certainly a problem, but apart from Ragnar Ache (muscle problems) and substitute keeper Diant Ramaj (knee surgery), everyone else is fit.
This is particularly pleasing from a Frankfurt perspective with a view to Daichi Kamada and Filip Kostic. The attacking duo, who missed the guest appearance at VfB Stuttgart (3:2) and left a large gap in attack, returned to team training on Wednesday and made a calm, shaky impression. In the forms of play, which were designed for fast and direct passing as well as switching moments by the strikers, both were among the assets. Both will probably return to the starting XI against Wolves.
It could hit Lenz and Rode
But that also means: Two professionals from the winning eleven in Stuttgart have to vacate their place and take a seat on the bench despite an appealing performance. The two most likely candidates for these hardship decisions: Christopher Lenz, who prepared Ajdin Hrustic’s first goal with a spot-on corner kick and was also otherwise one of the assets, and Sebastian Rode.
The captain, who had to be substituted due to an injury, also finished training a little earlier on Wednesday and trudged off the pitch together with Kostic after around 70 minutes. An agreed precautionary measure, but also a pointer. Because while Kostic added a shot on goal and sprint unit, Rode cycled straight back to the professional camp. The 31-year-old, who keeps complaining about pain in his injured knee, is ready for a break again. He will get this at the weekend.
The places in the starting eleven are contested
And what about the rest of the team? In the final game, in which Durm and Barkok were allowed to gather a bit of training match practice after Rode and Kostic ended training early, it became clear that the competition was getting hotter. Ansgar Knauff, who indicated his potential in an easily won sprint duel against Lenz including a measured cross on Kamada, puts Timothy Chandler under pressure on the outside. Lenz, who trained a little more inconspicuously, had already shown in Stuttgart that he could possibly be used as a backup.
Rafael Borré, Kamada and Jesper Lindström, who also formed a team in training, are initially seeded in the attacking line-up. On the other hand, Jens Petter Hauge and even Goncalo Paciencia also showed good approaches and continue to offer themselves. At headquarters, Hrustic, who will be out again despite his brace at the weekend, is at least close to the starting XI. Only the defense stands alone in the absence of old master Hasebe.
One thing is clear: the duels for places in the starting XI are getting closer and closer, even taking part in the final game in training is no longer certain. Not all players will like that, but it can only do Eintracht good.
End of further information