Euro 2016: Germany

Schnerres

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Apr 28, 2009
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Germany
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.
 

Schnerres

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Apr 28, 2009
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Germany
Jogi Löw just in the press conference:

-Mats Hummels trained twice with the team, but Jogi Löw doesn´t know if he will play him against Poland
-Schweinsteiger is definitely not fit for 90mins
-he (Jogi Löw) tries to act a little bit different (I don´t know if you saw what he did, but the internet is full of his trouser-gate)
-the team felt save the last time they were in Paris (0-2 vs France last November) when there were bomb attacks outside the stadium and the team stayed at the Stade de France overnight and they feel safe right now
-he doesn´t know (he won´t say for now), which of the Mario´s (Götze/Gomez) he will play up front
-he has a lot of respect for Poland (many questions about them) and won´t underestimate them / thinks they are one of the best teams
 

Schnerres

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SoSH Member
Apr 28, 2009
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Germany
Out with injury:
Gomez: DFB said he´s out of the Euros with injury.
Khedira: will probably miss semis(not official from DFB), unclear what happens after
Schweinsteiger: got a hit on the knee, but should be able to play the Semifinal

Additionally, Hummels will miss the Semifinal with accumulated yellow cards.

Missing Gomez is a huge blow, as Müller has missed everything so far (incl.penalty) and Götze sat out for extended time. Draxler is not a CF, you cannot play Schürrle or Poldi there. Could result in this lineup:
-------------
----------------Neuer----------------
Kimmich, Mustafi, Boateng, Hector-----
------------Kroos, Schweinsteiger----------
---------Müller, Özil, Draxler-------
-----------------Götze----------------

It could also depend on the opposition. If we play Iceland, smth like above is the way to go. Facing France should also not result in much changes, as they play another 4-2-3-1 with Giroud as the lone frontman. Löw played the 3 CBs to counter the 4-4-2 from Italy and possibly pull back the two wings Hector and Kimmich against Italy´s offensive wings when they were attacking. But it doesn´t seem this would happen vs. either of the two possible opponents. Iceland plays with two forwards, but I doubt they instill much fear in Germany and Jogi would again see the need for three CBs (esp with Hummels out).
You could go with 2 forwards if you think someone like Müller needs help up front and play Müller/Schürrle or Müller/Draxler, Müller/Sané, which would IMO force a 3-4-1-2 with Höwedes, Boateng, Mustafi in the back, then Kimmich, Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Hector (Kimmich and Hector tracking back to make this a 5-3-2 when defending), Özil a little bit ahead and Müller/x in the front. That´s a possibility, but definitely not the best, I think. As neither France nor Iceland haven´t threatened as much as Italy, I wouldn´t fear them and play a 4-2-3-1 and try Götze.