STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
3 best players not in the squad:
Germany have won the joint second most World Cups (4 with Italy), and the joint most European Championships (3 with Spain). They won both competitions in the 1990's and 1970's, and it's these two decades where the most players in this squad come from. Germany have the joint most 'World-Class' goalkeepers, alongside Italy, and the 3 in the squad are all-time greats. Sammer and Beckenbauer are probably Germany's two best defenders, but since they are two liberos, Kohler starts next to Beckenbauer as more of a 'stopper' style defender. Schnellinger can cover as a centre-back and left-back in the squad, while Sammer and Breitner are also capable in these respective positions. Horst Szymaniak is probably the best natural German No.6, but Matthaus and Sammer can fulfil these roles adequately. I originally had Bernd Schuster as a starter, but I decided to play Paul Breitner in his best position instead, rather than at left-back. So Schuster makes the bench instead alongside Kroos and Thomas Muller, who cover the rest of the midfield diamond. I considered starting Uwe Seeler and dropping Rummenigge back, but I decided Walter had to start, the captain of Germany's first World Cup in 1954. Seeler can instead act as cover upfront alongside Klinsmann. I then had one space left in the squad, which I gave to Wolfgang Overath as the best player not yet included. Breitner and Schnellinger's previously mentioned versatility meant that I wasn't overloaded in the midfield area. Thomas Muller and Rummenigge were wide options in the squad. Players By Decade: 1970's (7), 1990's (5), 2010's (4), 1980's (3), 1960's (2), 2000's (1), 1950's (1) World-Class German Players (68)
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