West Ham United defender Thilo Kehrer is ready for the challenge as Germany kickstart their 2022 World Cup preparation with two fixtures this September.
Hansi Flick’s men face Hungary and then England in the UEFA Nations League as the build-up to this year's World Cup intensifies over the next week.
In Qatar, Germany will play Spain and Costa Rice in Group E and start their campaign against Japan on 23 November at Khalifa International Stadium.
The versatile defender has impressed since he made his move to east London from Paris Saint-Germain this summer and is happily playing regular football in Claret & Blue.
“After four successful years in Paris, it was time this summer to take a new step and move on to a new challenge,“ Kehrer said, per the DFB website.
“West Ham is a very interesting project. It felt the best move for me and I have settled into the team very quickly. For the World Cup, it is important to be playing a lot.
“We [myself and Hansi Flick] talked about what was important this particular season with the World Cup. He shared with me what he wanted for the team. With this knowledge and my own assessment, I made the decision.”
Before a trip to Wembley to face an England side including teammates Jarrod Bowen and Declan Rice, Germany host Hungary, who currently top UEFA Nations League Group 1C.
However, Kehrer is ready for the battle against a side that did the double over England - 4-0 and 1-0 - last June and battled to a 1-1 with Germany in the reverse fixture.
“Hungary are a very unpleasant team to play against,” Kehrer said. “We saw this in the first game against them and in their other group games. They show a lot of commitment and desire, which they balance with their individual quality.
“They have young, good players with a good team spirit. They also have a good shape and triggers, play very bravely and are very confident in themselves.”
