'A very, very talented player' - Rohr gives his verdict on Kai Havertz ahead of France vs Germany

Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr will be torn between supporting Germany where he was born and rooting for France, where he has lived for several years, when the two countries face off in a 2020 European Championship clash at Allianz Arena in Munich on Tuesday evening.

The former Bayern Munich defender is better known for his stint at Ligue 1 club Bordeaux and holds both the German and French passports.

Rohr has previewed tomorrow's clash between France and Germany and Chelsea star Kai Havertz was one of the players namechecked as he discussed the attack-minded players expected to start for Germany.

Havertz was the most expensive signing made by a European club last summer and came in for criticism after a slow start to his career at Stamford Bridge but he had a fine end to the season, scoring the most important goal of his career as Chelsea beat Manchester City to win the UEFA Champions League last month.

Rohr revealed that Havertz is beginning to fulfill his potential and heads into the European Championship full of confidence.

Speaking to Ouest France (subscription required), the Super Eagles tactician said on Havertz : "This is the man on the rise. A very, very talented player, and one who arrives with full confidence".

Germany manager Joachim Löw could deploy a 3-4-3 formation against France, with Bayern Munich trio Thomas Muller, Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry, and Havertz competing for places in attack.

"All of these players are talented, up-and-coming, but they still lack that will, that resentment that Müller brings," added Rohr.

Maduka Okoye played on the same Bayer Leverkusen youth team as Havertz for five years before the Super Eagles goalkeeper switched to Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2017.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel