Germany, the 2014 World Cup holders, qualified top of their group in UEFA qualification,
winning every game and amassing a goal difference of plus 39.
Germany shared the goal-scoring around as well – Thomas Muller and Sandro Wagner,
who did not make the squad for the finals, scored five each; Julian Draxler, Serge Gnabry,
Timo Werner, and Leon Goretzka all managed three.
Germany line up in a 4-2-3-1.
The defensive spine is solid, with Bayern Munich partners Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels
working well together for club and country; Antonio Rudiger is a capable deputy as well.
Defensively, Germany press high, and if the opposition take the ball wide, they tend to
fall into a 4-3-3 aligned on the side of the opposition’s attack, seeking to narrow the
pitch.
Should the opposition switch play, Germany will align into a 4-4-2, with the central
attacking midfielder pushing up alongside the loan striker, and the wide players making
the first bank of four.
The aim is to win the ball back by pressing and counter attack, using the speed and attacking
abilities of the wide men, supported by the aggressive full backs.
The full backs, especially Joshua Kimmich, will also push up and in to assist the midfield
winning the ball, which then allows Germany opportunities to counter into the vacated
wide spaces.
Germany are a quick and creative side, who like to play a possession-based style.
They are comfortable building from the back, using a square of the two centre backs and
two central midfielders to recycle possession, until either the full backs or wide players
can be found with a pass.
It’s a style used by the more possession-based Bundesliga sides like Bayern and Dortmund,
so it’s no surprise to see it used by Germany as well.
The full backs, especially Kimmich, get forwards to support the wide players, either on the
overlap to drag a marker wide or get into space for a cross, or to carry the ball then
release the wide player into space.
The full backs’ vertical movement is covered by the centre backs, who split wide, and by
one of the central midfielders, so as not to leave the side too exposed at the back.
Germany have experimented quite a lot with their front four.
Thomas Muller, perhaps the side’s main goal threat, can play as a lone striker, in the
10 position, or out wide on the right cutting inside.
Timo Werner excels as a striker playing on the shoulder of the last defender.
Mario Gomez is more of an aerial threat and will bring other players into the attack with
his holding up of the ball and lay-offs or flick-ons.
Germany can also play a variety of people in the 10 role, with Mesut Ozil probably favourite
to start; Draxler and Goretzka could be used here too, though both have also been used
in wider roles.
It’s hard to discern a weakness in this German side.
The fitness of Manuel Neuer will be closely monitored, but Marc-Andre ter Stegen is a
capable deputy.
An injury to Kimmich would be problematic, as Germany do not have another natural right
back in their squad, and should Sami Khedira struggle at any point, Germany seem exposed
in the midfield ball-winning department, with only Sebastian Rudy an obvious replacement.
This is also a team reasonably light on World Cup experience: Mario Gotze did not make the
cut, and some of 2014’s heavy hitters have retired.
Having said that, every area of the team boasts at least two players with over 60 caps, except
in goal, so Low’s side are far from naïve.
While Toni Kroos and Mseut Ozil are the key creators, and Thomas Muller the obvious goal
scorer, Joshua Kimmich is a youngster who could have a huge impact.
Kimmich has been in superb form with Bayern and works exceptionally well with Muller down
the right, should Low start Werner up front.
Die Mannschaft are considered favourites by many for Russia 2018.
It’s not hard to see why.