This German squad looked strong, to the extent that fans on here were gasping for breath pre-tournament, but it was unusually conservative, which was exactly how it played.
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St-Germain).
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St-Germain), Leon Goretska (Schalke), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich).
Strikers: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig).
Having watched their games I can see why Leroy Sane wasn't shining in warm-up games. He's used to a quick David Silva-like pass and move style that suits his pace-based game. This German side was pond-er-ous. It shouldn't have been a case of Sane or Brandt but both and who to put with them. From Neuer forward players were selected who went out wearing their reputation rather than a German shirt .... but rumours of the demise of the German game are well-exaggerated.
There is a long list of players in the 25 years and under age-group who might have slotted in to add life a fairly lifeless squad:-
Not only would Leroy Sane have pepped up their attack, but also Julian Wiegl would surely have been a better bet than the struggling Khedira, as would Benjamin Henrichs. Ginter was in the squad but didn't get on the field did he? Jonathan Tah made the long list, but was cut from the short ........ Emre Can, Max Meyer, Nadim Amiri, Kai Havertz, Mahmoud Dahoud spring to mind in midfield. Thilo Kehrer is another versatile young defender and maybe Max Philipp from Dortmund might have troubled defences more than the statuesque Mario Gomez. In the current squad the giant Sule is only 22, and Draxler, Brandt, and Goretska are still improving ........ and Kimmich is eventually going to get to grips with where full backs normally play against decent opposition.
I'm sure fans with a better knowledge of German football can come up with other young-er players for whom this elimination will be a massive opportunity. BUT whilst the Spanish at one point seemed to be demonstrating centre forwards were no longer necessary, the Germans have gone out of their way to prove their worth. Werner's inexperience brought his reasonable, but not sensational, abilities into sharp relief. Looking beyond the squad it is hard to see another centre point for the German attack coming through, Philipp maybe? Seltz? Werner himself given time and better service and support? Certainly given their slow build-up the German attack looked toothless. Sweden, South Korea and Mexico all held them fairly easily for long periods.
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris St-Germain).
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich).
Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris St-Germain), Leon Goretska (Schalke), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich).
Strikers: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig).
Having watched their games I can see why Leroy Sane wasn't shining in warm-up games. He's used to a quick David Silva-like pass and move style that suits his pace-based game. This German side was pond-er-ous. It shouldn't have been a case of Sane or Brandt but both and who to put with them. From Neuer forward players were selected who went out wearing their reputation rather than a German shirt .... but rumours of the demise of the German game are well-exaggerated.
There is a long list of players in the 25 years and under age-group who might have slotted in to add life a fairly lifeless squad:-
Not only would Leroy Sane have pepped up their attack, but also Julian Wiegl would surely have been a better bet than the struggling Khedira, as would Benjamin Henrichs. Ginter was in the squad but didn't get on the field did he? Jonathan Tah made the long list, but was cut from the short ........ Emre Can, Max Meyer, Nadim Amiri, Kai Havertz, Mahmoud Dahoud spring to mind in midfield. Thilo Kehrer is another versatile young defender and maybe Max Philipp from Dortmund might have troubled defences more than the statuesque Mario Gomez. In the current squad the giant Sule is only 22, and Draxler, Brandt, and Goretska are still improving ........ and Kimmich is eventually going to get to grips with where full backs normally play against decent opposition.
I'm sure fans with a better knowledge of German football can come up with other young-er players for whom this elimination will be a massive opportunity. BUT whilst the Spanish at one point seemed to be demonstrating centre forwards were no longer necessary, the Germans have gone out of their way to prove their worth. Werner's inexperience brought his reasonable, but not sensational, abilities into sharp relief. Looking beyond the squad it is hard to see another centre point for the German attack coming through, Philipp maybe? Seltz? Werner himself given time and better service and support? Certainly given their slow build-up the German attack looked toothless. Sweden, South Korea and Mexico all held them fairly easily for long periods.