Timo Werner, Germany (photo credit:Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts-Zimbio)
Germany recently announced its 23-man roster for the 2018 World Cup and the surprise is that Leroy Sane is not on the squad. Coach Joachim Löw is going for players who have performed for him in the past with Germany. It also speaks to the depth that Germany has. Another thing of note: Remember when I said six of the starting eleven in the 2014 Final came from Bayern Munich at the time with a seventh (Mario Götze) coming on as a sub and scoring the winner? There are seven Bayern players total in the 23-man squad (the same number as four years ago).
Meanwhile, here are three players who will make the plane to Russia and to keep an eye on in Russia.
Julian Draxler (Midfielder, 24, Paris St. Germain:) Draxler is one of the up and coming players for Germany. He won the Golden Ball as the best player of last year’s Confederations Cup which Germany won. He is likely to join a midfield that includes Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, and Mesut Ozil. With Leroy Sane not going to Russia, he stands a chance of starting at left wing.
Timo Werner (Forward, 22, RB Leipzig:) Now let’s take a look at the Golden Boot winner from the Confederations Cup. Werner has struck 42 times in 77 matches for RB Leipzig and seven times in 13 caps for Germany. He is a natural striker who will most likely be the one in a 4-2-3-1 formation for Germany.
Manuel Neuer (Goalkeeper, 32, Bayern Munich)/Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (Goalkeeper, 26, Barcelona:) I could pick any one of Bayern’s players, but it is Neuer whose fitness will be something to look for in Russia. If he is fit, and he did show flashes of brilliance in their friendly against Austria, then Germany will be solid in goal. If not, then it will be up to Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to start in goal and be the #1. He is a great goalie, it’s just that Neuer is a greater goalie when fit. Ter Stegen was also part of the Confederations Cup winning team.
Germany is one of the favorites to win it all. More people will believe it is that depth that allows them to omit a player like Leroy Sane from the squad. Other teams have improved since Bastian Schweinsteiger lifted the World Cup trophy in Rio four years ago. Maybe the loss to Austria is a good thing as it gives the Germans a chance to work out any kinks before playing Mexico at the Luzhniki on June 17th.
