In this UEFA EURO 2016 special, I try to replicate all the team that possible to be made in WCCF newest version (15-16) based on squads confirmed for the tournament. We all know that the squad list already confirmed so there won't be any change in the future.
Next up is the current World Cup champions, Germany. Here is the 23-man squads confirmed
| # | Pos. | Player | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK | Manuel Neuer | 27 March 1986 (aged 30) | 64 | 0 | Bayern Munich |
| 2 | DF | Shkodran Mustafi | 17 April 1992 (aged 24) | 10 | 0 | Valencia |
| 3 | DF | Jonas Hector | 27 May 1990 (aged 26) | 13 | 1 | 1. FC Köln |
| 4 | DF | Benedikt Höwedes | 29 February 1988 (aged 28) | 33 | 2 | Schalke 04 |
| 5 | DF | Mats Hummels | 16 December 1988 (aged 27) | 46 | 4 | Borussia Dortmund |
| 6 | MF | Sami Khedira | 4 April 1987 (aged 29) | 59 | 5 | Juventus |
| 7 | MF | Bastian Schweinsteiger (captain) | 1 August 1984 (aged 31) | 114 | 23 | Manchester United |
| 8 | MF | Mesut Özil | 15 October 1988 (aged 27) | 72 | 19 | Arsenal |
| 9 | MF | André Schürrle | 6 November 1990 (aged 25) | 51 | 20 | VfL Wolfsburg |
| 10 | FW | Lukas Podolski | 4 June 1985 (aged 31) | 127 | 48 | Galatasaray |
| 11 | MF | Julian Draxler | 20 September 1993 (aged 22) | 18 | 1 | VfL Wolfsburg |
| 12 | GK | Bernd Leno | 4 March 1992 (aged 24) | 1 | 0 | Bayer Leverkusen |
| 13 | FW | Thomas Müller | 13 September 1989 (aged 26) | 70 | 31 | Bayern Munich |
| 14 | MF | Emre Can | 12 January 1994 (aged 22) | 5 | 0 | Liverpool |
| 15 | MF | Julian Weigl | 8 September 1995 (aged 20) | 1 | 0 | Borussia Dortmund |
| 16 | DF | Antonio Rüdiger | 3 March 1993 (aged 23) | 10 | 0 | Roma |
| 17 | DF | Jérôme Boateng | 3 September 1988 (aged 27) | 58 | 0 | Bayern Munich |
| 18 | MF | Toni Kroos | 4 January 1990 (aged 26) | 64 | 11 | Real Madrid |
| 19 | MF | Mario Götze | 3 June 1992 (aged 24) | 51 | 17 | Bayern Munich |
| 20 | MF | Leroy Sané | 11 January 1996 (aged 20) | 2 | 0 | Schalke 04 |
| 21 | DF | Joshua Kimmich | 8 February 1995 (aged 21) | 1 | 0 | Bayern Munich |
| 22 | GK | Marc-André ter Stegen | 30 April 1992 (aged 24) | 6 | 0 | Barcelona |
| 23 | FW | Mario Gómez | 10 July 1985 (aged 30) | 63 | 27 | Beşiktaş |
Here is the list of players that already released as a card in WCCF (with their newest verison)
| Pos. | Player | Version |
|---|---|---|
| GK | Manuel NEUER | 15-16 v2.0 |
| GK | Bernd LENO | 13-14 |
| GK | Marc Andre TER STEGEN | 15-16 |
| DF | Shkodran MUSTAFI | 15-16 v2.0 |
| DF | Jonas HECTOR | 15-16 v2.0 |
| DF | Benedikt HOWEDES | 15-16 v2.0 |
| DF | Mats HUMMELS | 15-16 v2.0 |
| DF | Antonio RUDIGER | 15-16 v2.0 |
| DF | Jerome BOATENG | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Sami KHEDIRA | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Mesut OZIL | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Andre SCHURRLE | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Julian DRAXLER | 12-13 |
| MF | Emre CAN | 15-16 |
| MF | Julian WEIGL | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Toni KROOS | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Mario GOTZE | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Leroy SANE | 15-16 v2.0 |
| MF | Joshua KIMMICH | 15-16 v2.0 |
| FW | Lukas PODOLSKI | 14-15 OE |
| FW | Thomas MULLER | 15-16 v2.0 |
| FW | Mario GOMEZ | 13-14 |
All of them has their own cards ! Standing ovation for the German NT !
Here is the WCCF team based on players above. Noted that not all of the
players included in the squad because WCCF could only had 16 players in
the team
Formation
Low is pretty successful with the 4-2-3-1 formation, he also used 4-2-4 in some matches with the front man being a second striker, usually Gotze.
Goalkeepers
Neuer. Do I have to think or explain about it?
Defenders
It's pretty hard to choose because the Germans called many center backs in the squad, but remember in one match in WC, he used center backs to fill the fullback role and it's proved successful. So, for best effect, I choose Howedes, Hummels, Rudiger and Boateng. In bench, Mustafi could fill every position in the defense. There is also Can who could be deployed as right back.
Midfielders
The current WC holder has lots of talents in the midfield. I pick Schweinsteiger and Kroos in the middle of the park, Basti can help with defense while Kroos connecting defense and offense. Wingers, Gotze and Schurrle will do a great job down the wing. Ozil is no doubt their no.1 play maker. In bench, I have Draxler as a sub for the winger, Khedira for the center midfielder role, and Can for his versatility, he could fill the center back, right back and midfield role.
Forwards
No doubt Muller will fill this position, good in the air and good making plays also. Podolski is ready on the bench. I left Gomez because I feel Podolski is similar to Muller, while Gomez could only be deployed as target man.
Overall
There is no doubt this is a very balanced team that you ever met in history of football. Germans have every player in each position, even the bench or not selected players above could fill the role easily even if the starting XI won't perform. But actually, in my opinion, their wing backs aren't the greatest. They are good in defense but I think they couldn't offer attacking movement that much. Missing Lahm already?
Prediction for EURO 2016
They will finish the group easily, yes. They will scrap through the first round and semi final easily, yes. But, in the semi final they are likely to meet France which will be a very hard fought battle. Since France is pretty strong in their home soil, I think German will finish the tournament in the Semi Final. Or maybe they can replicate Spain's success bringing back to back international trophy?
So, that's it. I hope you enjoy the squad and my prediction. How do you think Germany will go?
