The status of the relationship between the German national team and the supporters of the quadruple world champion could be described as complicated in recent months. The conversion of international matches to events, expensive tickets and little inspiring achievements had caused an alienation. Maybe one will tell in a few years, that the 6-1 victory in Frankfurt against Northern Ireland was something like a new turning point for the bond between DFB and fans.
At least, it was a reconciliatory conclusion of an international year with seven wins, two draws and one defeat. In the course of this, Joachim Löw has nominated 32 different professionals. It is to be expected that the national coach will recruit his squad for the European Championship 2020 from this group of players - surprises are not completely excluded.
We have analyzed the performances of the players in the matches for Germany, but also in the respective clubs and not least the importance of the players for Löw and look so ahead of the finals. 14 players already have a place in the squad, five have very good chances, five others hope and the decisions will depend on the recovery of the three long-term injured Leroy Sané, Niklas Süle and Antonio Rüdiger. There are still five players who will probably not make it to the European Championships - and Mats Hummels. Read the individual reviews here in detail:
23 out of 32
Nadiem Amiri: When the offensive player had to call Joachim Loew himself last October, because the coach did not have a current telephone number from Amiri, he knew: The move to Bayer Leverkusen was worth it. However, Amiri did not really benefit from the injury problems in the DFB squad, having come in three games in four games since the first nomination. In Leverkusen, the 23-year-old is not yet an unrestricted performer.
EM Status: It's complicated
Julian Brandt: Even if the 23-year-old was already in the damned World Cup 2018, he is considered a face of upheaval. Brandt is young, versatile, goal-scoring. But he is also sometimes phlegmatic, weak duo and plays as against Northern Ireland too many bad passes. In four of his 30 international matches Brandt was 90 minutes on the pitch, but Löw knows about his qualities as a substitute. In Dortmund Brandt is also not a regular player.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Emre Can: Actually everything should be scratched in the matter of EM. Can is very experienced at the age of 25 years, the Juventus professional has already played for Bayern and Liverpool. Can won titles, he can be used in several positions. And yet he is in a difficult phase of his career. With Juve Can plays only rarely, the midfield places in the DFB team are forgiven and so he helped out against Argentina, Estonia and Northern Ireland as the center-back. Will the flexibility help him? In this case rather no.
EM Status: There is hope, but it is getting tight
Julian Draxler: Who should have forgotten what great footballer Draxler is, should look at his template in PSG's 2-1 win in Brest last Friday in France: in the center circle with his back to the goal alluded to, fast turn, perfect pass the run of goalscorer Ángel di María. Draxler can do so much - and shows it too rarely. In the European Championship qualifier, he was used only twice due to injury. As of now, Draxler, 26, is a loser of upheaval.
EM Status: There is hope, but it is getting tight
Maximilian Eggestein: After the debut of Niklas Stark, Bremer is the only player in this list without an international match. At the beginning of the international match year 2019 Eggestein but was once in the squad, thanks to his achievements for Werder, but especially for the U21. As a defensive midfielder Eggestein brought much momentum and Torgefahr, but just the second he lost in the current preliminary round with Bremen. In the ranking of the central midfielder many players are in front of him.
EM Status: It's complicated
Matthias Ginter: Three world champions of 2014 were against Belarus and Northern Ireland in the DFB squad. One of them is Ginter, who debuted in the national team in March 2014 at the age of 20. Since then he has been in 29 international matches on the pitch, and more often over 90 minutes. The status as a follower has Ginter still can not quite put off, he was accustomed to "under the radar to run". However, the tricky situation in central defense plays him in the cards.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Serge Gnabry: When he's healthy, Gnabry plays. The Munich has scored in the European Championship qualifying eight goals, another launched and as at Bayern a regular place for sure. Gnabry needs physical freshness and fitness for his game. Against Belarus, he missed a few percent performance, against Northern Ireland, he was then with three hits back on track. It will be important for the European Championship how exhausting Gnabry's second round runs in Munich.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Leon Goretzka: That with the versatility, in the football language also called polyvalence, is such a thing. Goretzka is such a versatile player. Six, eights, tens, outside, against Belarus and Northern Ireland, he even played right wing. So you conquered in Löwschen cosmos, however, no regular place. In the central midfield, where Goretzka would be the most valuable with its dynamics and running power, there are currently three players in front of him, Kimmich, Gundogan and Kroos.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Ilkay Gündogan: The injury history of Gündogan is known. The European Championship could already be its fifth big tournament, in fact, the 29-year-old will come to just one tournament - with a total of 37 internationals. But now Gündogan, spurred on by his regular place at Manchester City, has settled in the DFB midfield. If he stays fit, Gündogan even has axle potential.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Marcel Halstenberg: At the 2018 World Cup the occupation of the defensive wings in quality and quantity was an elementary problem. The recognized Löw not immediately, first tried it the national coach in the post-World Cup age with center-backs on the outside or put on triple chain. Until he discovered the Leipzig tongs Halstenberg / Klostermann for the start in the year 2019 for himself. Halstenberg had already debuted in 2017, then missed injured - and is now a fixture.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Kai Havertz: In the current season Havertz has scored three goals and prepared one for Leverkusen in 16 competitive matches. In the Bayer environment is already criticism, after all, Havertz comes from a season with 27 goals in 42 official matches. That's not fair, Havertz is 20 years old. In the national coach he has earned a status in seven internationals, which guarantees him an EM nomination.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Jonas Hector: Against Northern Ireland Hector was allowed to play again in the DFB jersey, after a year off. He drew attention to himself with two assists. Overall, the Cologne is a solid full-back, who has run aground in his club last as a defensive midfielder. Solid was long enough in the national team as a nomination criterion, meanwhile, Hector was overtaken by Halstenberg and Nico Schulz.
EM Status: It's complicated
Mats Hummels: Niklas Süle? Injured. Antonio Rüdiger? In the construction training. Jonathan Tah, Robin Koch and Niklas Stark? Talented, but inexperienced. The national coach has used in the European Championship qualification in addition to Ginter five central defenders. A permanent solution is not in sight, so Hummels is traded for weeks as a returnee - and his services at BVB speak in favor. Löw wants to go through his break, at the moment he can do without Hummels.
EM Status: It's complicated
Thilo Kehrer: The defensive player of Paris Saint-Germain can be used in several positions, which makes him popular. In the long run, Kehrer will push into the center, but in terms of the continental European Championship, the 23-year-old is a candidate for the defensive wing, where sweeper has also denied all seven internationals. He is currently missing injured, but is on PSG but shortly before returning to the team training.
EM Status: Good prospects, but Löw is still considering
Joshua Kimmich: In the international year 2019 there were only a few constants at the DFB, one of them was called Kimmich. The 24-year-old has played since the World Cup in Russia always - in defensive midfield. Previously, Kimmich was set as right-back, now leads for Löw no way past the six Kimmich. In this role, he has lost to Torgefahr - especially as a sender - Kimmich must think more defensive.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Lukas Klostermann: Since the transfer of Kimmich, the injury of sweepers and since the national coach no longer defending center-back outwardly relocated, Klostermann is set in the DFB team. The Leipzig player also filled out this important position in his eight international matches - without putting much emphasis on offense like his predecessor Kimmich.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Robin Koch: Who plays in Freiburg and is invited to the national team, must live with comments on Löw's homeland. But Koch has shown how talented he is in his two international matches. The penalty he has caused against Belarus has also shown that the transition to a system with a high ball possession and a few defensive actions still requires time for a young professional like Koch. In the ranking of center-back not in the top four, but Löw appreciates Koch.
EM Status: There is hope, but it is getting tight
Toni Kroos: Is Germany one of the narrower favorites at the European Championship in 2020? Kroos will play a decisive role in answering this question, which Löw has publicly denied. The midfielder of Real Madrid has a regular place safely and out of a sense of self out the claim to be an axle member. His passport security is still impressive, Kroos also scored three goals in the European Championship qualifiers. But it will be important for big opponents to master defensive switching situations.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Bernd Leno: At this point could also be a photo of Kevin Trapp. At the beginning of the international season, the Frankfurt was still in the DFB squad, currently missing Trapp injured. There is much to read about a goalkeeper duel between Manuel Neuer and Marc-André ter Stegen. It will not be a three-way fight, regardless of whether Löw chooses Leno (Arsenal) or Trapp. The national coach knows what he has on the two - but the future in the DFB team belongs to ter Stegen.
EM Status: Good prospects, but Löw is still considering
Manuel Neuer: The goalkeeper of Bayern Munich is captain and achievers in the DFB team, with him, the DFB-Axis goes off. And yet Neuer had to face the discussion in recent months, why the national coach does not rely on Marc-André ter Stegen. There are arguments for both points of view, but Neuer is no longer the over-goalkeeper, he was still in the World Cup title in 2014. In the European Championship qualifier, he has also played six times to zero.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Marco Reus: A player with this ability has to be measured at the first round of 2018/2019, when he led Borussia Dortmund with eleven goals and seven assists to the Bundesliga top. Since then, small injuries string together and Reus is not the game decision-maker that could be both the BVB and in the DFB team (three goals, two assists in the European Championship qualifiers). Against Belarus and Northern Ireland, Reus was missing again.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Antonio Rüdiger: When the German team started their European Championship qualifiers last March with a 3-2 victory in the Netherlands and showed excellent football at least in phases, defense concerns seemed to be a long way off. This was followed by Rüdiger's knee surgery and Süle's cruciate ligament tear and thus Löw's center-back casting. Rüdiger will soon return to the squad of Chelsea - and in March, the national team. But he needs a lot of stakes in the blues.
EM status: Healthy and with match practice in the club undoubtedly there
Sebastian Rudy: The national team and Rudy have an on-off relationship that should be a signal to the player when it comes to summer planning. Since the 2018 World Cup, when he suddenly became hopeful in the second group match against Sweden, but had to be replaced after 31 minutes because of a broken nose, he was in 16 internationals eight times not in the squad. Rudy is allowed to come if several players fail midfield.
EM Status: It's complicated
Leroy Sané: Sané was reported almost daily last summer. Is he going to Bayern? Is he staying at Manchester City? Can he help the DFB team shine? Then came the cruciate ligament rupture and it was quiet around the 23-year-olds. That will change again soon. The interest of the Munich is unbroken and in February Sané could celebrate his comeback. An assault series with Sané, Gnabry and Reus in top form sounds auspicious.
EM status: Healthy and with match practice in the club undoubtedly there
Nico Schulz: With the change to Borussia Dortmund Schulz, who became national player in Hoffenheim, should be even better. But things turned out differently, also because Schulz injured himself. At BVB he has not gotten used to the 4-2-3-1 of coach Lucien Favre even after months, as an outside tracker in front of a triple chain Schulz copes better. The fluctuating performances in Dortmund were also transferred to the national team.
EM Status: Good prospects, but Löw is still considering
Suat Serdar: National players with Turkish roots have to reckon with criticism from Turkey if they decide for the DFB. That's what happened to Serdar, who has been playing for Germany since the U16. From a sporting point of view, it might even have been smarter to play for Turkey, the power density in the German midfield is much higher. After the European Championship, however, Serdar's situation could improve, mainly due to his goal threat at FC Schalke.
EM Status: It's complicated
Niklas Stark: It was finally over against Northern Ireland. Strong came in after various futile attempts in the national team, 25 debut minutes gave Loew the debutants. Afterwards Stark spoke of "doing everything" to belong to the DFB squad at the European Championships. But the center-back knows that it will not be just his achievements. Are all competitors fit, are too many in front of Stark.
EM Status: There is hope, but it is getting tight
Marc-André ter Stegen: FC Barcelona leads the table in Spain, but does not seem as confident as in the preseason. Good for ter Stegen, who was able to prove himself surprisingly often in the classic goalkeeper game. But in the end he no longer has that, he has no weaknesses and the national coach knows that. In the hierarchy, however, Neuer still stands in front of the Stegen, that will not change before the European Championships.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
Niklas Süle: Löw's decision to renounce Hummels and Jerome Boateng after the Nations League runoffs was also a choice for Süle. The Munich was the defensive chief and would have been part of the DF at the European Championships - then came the cruciate ligament tear on October 20. Since then, it is expected. With optimal recovery, Sule could return to the field in April. But it was the second crack in the left knee and that can complicate the recovery. Patience is needed.
EM status: Healthy and with match practice in the club undoubtedly there
Jonathan Tah: At the DFB, they value their own youth work. Anyone who has played regularly in the U-national teams, while gaining tournament experience, it has in the A team easier. This benefits Tah, who has rarely been able to convince in his nine internationals since his debut in 2016. Therefore, he competes with Koch, Stark and the non-specialist Can for the fourth central defender in the European Championship squad.
EM Status: Good prospects, but Löw is still considering
Luca Waldschmidt: Does the most successful German striker at the gates have to play in the DFB team? This discussion is conducted since Bundesliga top scorer Martin Max 2002 was not nominated for the World Cup. What does this have to do with Waldschmidt? The Freiburg is in the current scorers list with four goals behind his compatriots Timo Werner (11), Rouwen Hennings (9), Nils Petersen (6) and Kevin Volland (5). Of those, only Werner will go to the European Championships - and maybe Waldschmidt. Because he is young, capable of development and strong in games.
EM Status: There is hope, but it is getting tight
Timo Werner: New - Süle - Kimmich - Kroos - Werner. So the national coach had introduced the central axis of his new national team. Süle's injury is one problem, Werner's style of play is the other. The scoring of the Leipzig is satisfactory with eleven goals in 29 internationals, but Werner is not a classic center forward. That does not have to be a problem in the flexible interaction with Sané, Gnabry or Reus, a fixed point is Werner but not yet.
EM status: Kaderplatz is safe
