One of the possible starters as CB (as Mats Hummels´replacement, who is not fully fit), Roma´s Antonio Rüdiger is out with a torn ACL. In the first training session in France, he injured himself in a duel with Thomas Müller.
The likeliest replacements? Nobody knows. There could be Mustafi (Valencia) and Höwedes (Schalke), both are the same as Rüdiger, able to play as RB and CB. This hurts Germany in the short term. I don´t know who will replace him on the 23-man-roster. Of the 27-man roster, there were 3 offensives (Reus, Brandt, Bellarabi) which were sent home, plus RB/DM Sebastian Rudy. I hope Jogi Löw won´t pick Rudy to re-join the roster, and instead goes a totally different route with another player. If he wants a CB only, the choice would be for youngster Jonathan Tah(20) from Bayer Leverkusen or he should pick some kind of CB/RB player like Rüdiger was, which is more suited for Dortmund´s WC-winning Matthias Ginter(22).
A lot should depend on how content is Löw with his current players (Emre Can, Mustafi, Höwedes, Kimmich, Weigl) and how long it will take for experienced guys Hummels and Schweinsteiger to be an option/starter.
----------------Neuer----------------
Höwedes, Mustafi, Boateng, Hector
------------Kroos, Khedira----------
---------Müller, Özil, Draxler-------
-----------------Götze----------------
I have no idea how long it will take (if, ever) for Hummels and Schweinsteiger to play. Hopefully Khedira takes that role and runs with it. Hummels being back for Mustafi would be big. Hector has the LB role and it seems Draxler is also in the starting11. Question: Will Mario Götze play up front or will Mario Gomez get a starting spot? I think Götze gets at least two starts to prove himself. If it doesn´t work, Gomez could get his minutes as a CF.
Question2: Who will get the earliest start: Kimmich, Weigl, Can, Schürrle, Sané (Podolski at this point is just a bench option)? I don´t know. Possibly Schürrle if Draxler fails, but Löw has shown he isn´t afraid of a surprise here or there.
The likeliest replacements? Nobody knows. There could be Mustafi (Valencia) and Höwedes (Schalke), both are the same as Rüdiger, able to play as RB and CB. This hurts Germany in the short term. I don´t know who will replace him on the 23-man-roster. Of the 27-man roster, there were 3 offensives (Reus, Brandt, Bellarabi) which were sent home, plus RB/DM Sebastian Rudy. I hope Jogi Löw won´t pick Rudy to re-join the roster, and instead goes a totally different route with another player. If he wants a CB only, the choice would be for youngster Jonathan Tah(20) from Bayer Leverkusen or he should pick some kind of CB/RB player like Rüdiger was, which is more suited for Dortmund´s WC-winning Matthias Ginter(22).
A lot should depend on how content is Löw with his current players (Emre Can, Mustafi, Höwedes, Kimmich, Weigl) and how long it will take for experienced guys Hummels and Schweinsteiger to be an option/starter.
----------------Neuer----------------
Höwedes, Mustafi, Boateng, Hector
------------Kroos, Khedira----------
---------Müller, Özil, Draxler-------
-----------------Götze----------------
I have no idea how long it will take (if, ever) for Hummels and Schweinsteiger to play. Hopefully Khedira takes that role and runs with it. Hummels being back for Mustafi would be big. Hector has the LB role and it seems Draxler is also in the starting11. Question: Will Mario Götze play up front or will Mario Gomez get a starting spot? I think Götze gets at least two starts to prove himself. If it doesn´t work, Gomez could get his minutes as a CF.
Question2: Who will get the earliest start: Kimmich, Weigl, Can, Schürrle, Sané (Podolski at this point is just a bench option)? I don´t know. Possibly Schürrle if Draxler fails, but Löw has shown he isn´t afraid of a surprise here or there.