Germany legend Rudi Voller has defended Florian Wirtz, insisting the Liverpool star is world-class and will be a key player for both club and country, despite recent criticism.
The 23-year-old playmaker has faced scrutiny following his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen to Anfield, with some questioning his ability to be decisive in crucial moments for Liverpool this season.
Criticism has also come from former Germany international Toni Kroos, who took a swipe at Wirtz's performances at the World Cup during the summer.
Voller hits back at critics
Voller, who won the World Cup with West Germany in 1990, told Bild: "He's been over there for a year now, and the English media are even more critical. I see a player who is doing everything he can to bring his exceptional qualities to the pitch in England as well."
"Flo is still young, and he's simply world-class! I know he'll be very important, a key player for our national team. And that will be true in the upcoming tournaments as well."
He added: "He and Jamal (Musiala) are our future. Yes, France and Spain have strong squads. But I know we're better than we've shown recently."
Support from Klopp and Iraola
Wirtz has also received backing from Liverpool head coach Andoni Iraola and Jurgen Klopp, now in charge of the German national team, who have both made clear that the midfielder contributes more than statistics alone.
Wirtz came off the bench in a 1-0 loss to Greece on Sunday, and could feature from the start in the upcoming match against Serbia, before the reverse fixture against Greece closes the international break.
He will then return to Liverpool duty, with matches against Manchester City and Arsenal offering a chance to prove his worth.
