Review: German National Team News & Discussion Thread - Euro 2016 & Beyond

I think our fullbacks are doing alright, Sure Kimmich is not at Lahm's level yet but at his age I think he is already pretty good, his display at the Euro 2016 isn't really below Lahm's display at the 2004Euro and 2006WC. Likewise, Hector in the LB is getting better and better and I think he is already one of the best LBs in the world. Also, Mustafi, Howdes, or Boateng can substitute one of their roles if injuries occur.

I think our main concern is the CF, I mean we really need someone who can be the successor to Klose/Gomez, also considering that muller plays the best when he is playing behind a CF as a supporting striker rather than playing the CF role himself.

 

If only Alaba and Lewandowski were German :/

 

The way Benjamin Henrichs is making progress this season I won't be surprised if he becomes the long term RB solution for Germany..having absolutely stuoendous season so far

 

Gundogan is a dilemma, double pivot Kroos - Gundogan is not good enough for defence, but midfield trio Kroos - Gundogan - DM will sacrifice Oezil, will move Oezil from AMC to winger

Rather than Goetze, really hope Muller can be a good striker / CF / false 9, so Loew can still use Oezil and Reus / Draxler for attacking trio

Henrichs, Passlack, Weiser are all RB, still there are no LB for Jonas Hector's successor?

 

I thought at the world cup 2014, we played Ozil in the left winger position(correct me if I'm wrong) and we played Kroos in the AMF position. For me, I'm considering Gundogan as probably even a better player than both Kroos and Ozil(not a better player overall but a better player in that advanced role)because of his movement and spatial awareness, he is really the type of player that always pass and move, and pass and move, seeking for empty spaces to receive and pass the ball. In comparison to Kroos, I think his athleticism is a bit better in that he is always in movement and he covers more ground on the field(against Barcelona in the UCL, he was pretty much everywhere), resembling more of a B2B attacking midfielder, whereas Kroos's role is more like a CM deep-lying playmaker .

In comparison to Ozil in the advanced midfielder role, I think Gundogan is a much harder player for the opponent to nullify because of he is always in movement and search for empty spaces to pass and receive the ball. I really like Ozil's creativity and technique in his passing, but at the same time, I also think that he is a player that relies too much on space to operate, if facing a very strong opponent like we did against Italy at Euro 2016 where we faced a very compact formation of 3-5-2 and during the first half when Kroos was tightly marked and Ozil's space and time and the ball were denied, the Kroos-Ozil link could be a bit too vunlerable to opponent's pressing.

 

Passlack and Henrichs have shown lots of promise, but the player who deserves the nomination the most in the present is imo Mitchell Weiser.

 

He plays both depending on the opponent.

 

Weigl and Kroos play the same position, at this time there is no comparison in terms of quality.

 

If they stay healthy and at their current level, then I see no better midfield-three than Khedira, Kroos and Gündogan for 2018. Khedira and Kroos are imo 100% locked in on their positions, while Ilkay's work-rate should be sufficient alongside Khedira to balance some of Toni's liberal interpretations of defence.

 

You don't think khedira is limited and getting older?

I think he offers little in the modern game.

Maybe better as some suggested to have weigl in that role if we have Kimmich play RB

 

Benjamin Henrichs has been called up to the NT for the games against Italy and SAN Marino...
Also Yannick Gerhardt has been called up as left back back up of Hector...
Sergei Gnabry also gets his maiden call...
Goretzka back after a long time and Meyer/Brandt/Volland included as well...

Ozil rested and Reus/Draxler/Schurrle/Bellarabi not picked up due to injuries/fitness

Emre Can ignored as Rudy gets the nod of over him

Exciting time for the NT

 

The decision for Rudy ahead of Weiser is mindboggling.

 

Low also said that Khedira and Kroos are only playing against San Marino and not against Italy.

 

Yeah, Plattenhardt is out with a hip injury. Hertha will be starting their '97er LB Maxi Mittelstädt vs Gladbach today.

 

Weiser is defensively weak. That's the only explanation I can think of for his exclusion. Rudy has had some decent performances but yeah obviously he isn't good enough for the highest level.

Loew has called up 5 CBs and 5 full-backs. That's too many defenders methinks.

I am pleasantly surprised that Gerhardt has been nominated. I didn't see that coming. Since I saw him play for Germany U19s( so for 4 years) I've been saying that he can potentially be the attacking left back that Germany needs. He is more talented than Hector, IMO. Let's see how he fares. He has to seize this opportunity. Please don't let us down.

Henrichs has had only 1 cameo appearance for Germany U21s. On one hand, his selection is a big surprise because he was behind Toljan and Weiser in the pecking order in the German u21 team. On the other hand, we've been saying he's a huge talent for years so it's maybe not all that surprising that he's been called up to the senior team at the age of 19.

 

Weiser improved a lot defensively under Dardai's tutelage. Many Hertha fans I talk to see him as even more valuable in his RB role than as an attacking winger. Not nominating him at this point has nothing to do with performances or defensive weaknesses.

I rather suspect this is a case of the usual DFB clique. Weiser was branded as a troublemaker some time ago by one of his youth coaches and that negatively affects his chances to get nominated for other DFB teams. Probably also a major reason why Hrubesch often ignored him for the U21s.

 

wondering, do you guys think Kramer hasn't been picked since March 2016 because of his blackmail scandal?

 

Surely club form is the most important thing? Henrichs has been performing at a high level for a CL team, including away to a top EPL team at Wembley. On that basis it would seem he could be ready for international football.

Gnabry's call up is interesting as it proves playing regular football is far more important then moving to and staying at a big club early in your career. If he had stayed at Arsenal, he would not been playing regularly and would be no where near the NT. Hopefully other promising youngsters take note.

 

I think that's why Sane who's been mostly a bench player when not injured at City wasn't picked for the seniors.