el tren
Adolfo Valencia
I guess some ppl heard about it already, but Löw called up his preliminary squad of 27 (with regard to the Bayern players missing due to CL final):
GK: Neuer, Wiese, Zieler, ter Stegen
DEF: Badstuber, Hummels, Boateng, Höwedes, Mertesacker, Lahm, Schmelzer
MF: Özil, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Müller, Götze, Gündogan, Sven Bender, Lars Bender, Schürrle, Podolski, Draxler, Reus
ST: Klose, Gomez, Cacau
Nominating 4 GKs look strange, but could be a hint that Wiese will be cut in order to give the young guns (esp ter Stegen) some tournament experience.
Nominating only 7 defenders is also interesting, but its doable with those flexible players - Boateng and Höwedes are both CDs that can play RB too. Similar is true for Badstuber (LB). And Lahm can act on both FB positions. It could be a hint that Lahm is planned as LB, with Schmelzer as his backup. I hope its not, b/c i prefer Lahm on the right and a true FB on the left instead of a CD put on the right. Although Lahm could also start as RB and act as LB backup and switch sides if Schmelzer would be unavailable. But we will see...
The MF is still heavily packed, and 3 ppl will be dropped. Gündogan and Draxler will most likely be two of those three. Gündogan is needed as sole playmaker in Schweinsteigers and Kroos' absence due to Bayerns CL final. Draxlers nomination was a huge surprise already. He will train with the boys while some Bayern players are off and get some nice EC training base experience, but thats it most likely. The 3rd one will be thougher. My guess its between the Benders - and then its more likely Sven who has to go home. He is still struggling with injury and Lars the slightly better or lets say a bit more complete player. It will also leave Löw with basically two on each MF pos - Khedira backed by a Bender, Schweinsteiger by Kroos, complemented by 3 outside strikers (Müller, Poldi, Schürrle) and 3 technical/creative offensive players that are (also) good in the center (Özil, Götze, Reus) for the 3 offensive line positions.
Bringing Klose and Gomez was a no brainer ofc, even though Klose just had his comeback this weekend for Lazio, while 3 others competed for the 3rd pos: Cacau, Helmes and Kiessling. Kiessling was easiest to sort out as he wouldnt add sth new to the squad (he is very similar to Klose/Gomez in style). I would have chosen Helmes tbh, b/c he is the most different of the 3. Being a true poacher in very good form, he would have been a very nice option to sub in when we are in need of a goal. Cacau was however the easiest choice as he spent the most time with the NT and is thus most familiar with the team and its tactics.
The current starting 11 looks like this:
Note: Players in bold are almost 100% set. When i put two players in a position, the 1st one is the probable player, the one in brackets the alternative. When i put multiple players in there separated with slashs, its actually less a question of general preference but depending on the opponent and the tactical concept - i.e. Podolski or Schürrle as direct and Götze as more controllish player.
__________________________Klose(Gomez)________________________
Götze/Podolski(Schürrle)________Özil_____________________Müller(Reus)
______________Schweinsteiger_______Khedira____________________
Lahm(Schmelzer)__Badstuber__Hummels(Metzelder)__Boateng(Höwedes, Lahm)
___________________________Neuer______________________________
So much for that. My preffered starting-11 isnt far off btw:
_______________Klose___________
__Götze_________Özil_____Müller__
_______Schweinst____Khedira_____
Schmelzer_Badstuber_Hummels_Lahm
_______________Neuer___________
GK: Neuer, Wiese, Zieler, ter Stegen
DEF: Badstuber, Hummels, Boateng, Höwedes, Mertesacker, Lahm, Schmelzer
MF: Özil, Khedira, Schweinsteiger, Kroos, Müller, Götze, Gündogan, Sven Bender, Lars Bender, Schürrle, Podolski, Draxler, Reus
ST: Klose, Gomez, Cacau
Nominating 4 GKs look strange, but could be a hint that Wiese will be cut in order to give the young guns (esp ter Stegen) some tournament experience.
Nominating only 7 defenders is also interesting, but its doable with those flexible players - Boateng and Höwedes are both CDs that can play RB too. Similar is true for Badstuber (LB). And Lahm can act on both FB positions. It could be a hint that Lahm is planned as LB, with Schmelzer as his backup. I hope its not, b/c i prefer Lahm on the right and a true FB on the left instead of a CD put on the right. Although Lahm could also start as RB and act as LB backup and switch sides if Schmelzer would be unavailable. But we will see...
The MF is still heavily packed, and 3 ppl will be dropped. Gündogan and Draxler will most likely be two of those three. Gündogan is needed as sole playmaker in Schweinsteigers and Kroos' absence due to Bayerns CL final. Draxlers nomination was a huge surprise already. He will train with the boys while some Bayern players are off and get some nice EC training base experience, but thats it most likely. The 3rd one will be thougher. My guess its between the Benders - and then its more likely Sven who has to go home. He is still struggling with injury and Lars the slightly better or lets say a bit more complete player. It will also leave Löw with basically two on each MF pos - Khedira backed by a Bender, Schweinsteiger by Kroos, complemented by 3 outside strikers (Müller, Poldi, Schürrle) and 3 technical/creative offensive players that are (also) good in the center (Özil, Götze, Reus) for the 3 offensive line positions.
Bringing Klose and Gomez was a no brainer ofc, even though Klose just had his comeback this weekend for Lazio, while 3 others competed for the 3rd pos: Cacau, Helmes and Kiessling. Kiessling was easiest to sort out as he wouldnt add sth new to the squad (he is very similar to Klose/Gomez in style). I would have chosen Helmes tbh, b/c he is the most different of the 3. Being a true poacher in very good form, he would have been a very nice option to sub in when we are in need of a goal. Cacau was however the easiest choice as he spent the most time with the NT and is thus most familiar with the team and its tactics.
The current starting 11 looks like this:
Note: Players in bold are almost 100% set. When i put two players in a position, the 1st one is the probable player, the one in brackets the alternative. When i put multiple players in there separated with slashs, its actually less a question of general preference but depending on the opponent and the tactical concept - i.e. Podolski or Schürrle as direct and Götze as more controllish player.
__________________________Klose(Gomez)________________________
Götze/Podolski(Schürrle)________Özil_____________________Müller(Reus)
______________Schweinsteiger_______Khedira____________________
Lahm(Schmelzer)__Badstuber__Hummels(Metzelder)__Boateng(Höwedes, Lahm)
___________________________Neuer______________________________
So much for that. My preffered starting-11 isnt far off btw:
_______________Klose___________
__Götze_________Özil_____Müller__
_______Schweinst____Khedira_____
Schmelzer_Badstuber_Hummels_Lahm
_______________Neuer___________
