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Selection posers for Germany and Löw to answer

Germany reporter Steffen Potter gets to grips with the dilemmas occupying Joachim Löw with just days to go before they kick-off – forward or no forward, full-backs or not?

Joachim Löw: issues to ponder
Joachim Löw: issues to ponder ©Getty Images

Le problem
The dearth of right-backs in the squad is evident. Joachim Löw has tried out several players since the FIFA World Cup, most prominently Sebastian Rudy (who did not make the UEFA EURO 2016 squad) and Emre Can (who failed to convince). None regularly plays right-back at club level and Antonio Rüdiger's knee ligament woe has further complicated the situation.

Admittedly, it was a similar situation two years ago and that did not end too badly. Löw played Philipp Lahm as a central midfielder in Brazil and employed a back four made up entirely of centre-backs. Safety over attacking verve. Lahm was redeployed on the right side of defence from the quarter-finals onwards.

The system
The lack of world-class full-backs has seen Germany experiment with three or five at the back, but Löw remains unconvinced. It is highly unlikely we will see a repeat in France.

2008: Germany 3-2 Turkey

This leaves them with a conservative set-up, a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3. The world champions will try to control possession and make sure that when they are applying their defensive press (using variations of 4-4-2 and 4-4-1-1) they can launch quick counterattacks.

Germany will not be as exciting as they were in the two or three-year period either side of the 2010 World Cup. Thinking back to two summers ago, the approach will be more in line with the clinical win against France in the quarter-finals than the barnstorming Brazil semi. Possession, fluid combinations, low risk.

The players
Manuel Neuer in goal, obviously.

The back four was originally set up to consist of three centre-halves and a full-back, as it was in Brazil: Benedikt Höwedes, Rüdiger, Jérôme Boateng and left-back Jonas Hector. Rüdiger's withdrawal means Höwedes is likely to move across to partner Boateng in the middle, with Shkodran Mustafi, Rüdiger's replacement Jonathan Tah and Can vying for the right-back spot. I reckon Can will get the nod.

Rüdiger was ruled out on Tuesday
Rüdiger was ruled out on Tuesday©Getty Images

In midfield, Toni Kroos will be deployed as a deep-lying playmaker like he is for Real Madrid, with Sami Khedira shuttling back and forth next to him. Thomas Müller will do his thing on the right – and his unpredictable movement means it makes sense to have a more cautious right-back. Mesut Özil will operate behind the lone striker.

That all leaves two positions up for grabs: left-wing in the absence of Marco Reus, and forward. I am almost certain that Mario Götze will feature, though I am less sure which berth he will fill. I am leaning to the left as he likes to drift inside like Özil did at the World Cup, and this would give Hector width to exploit.

That leaves the central attacking position for back-in-form Mario Gomez … unless Löw plumps for Götze up front, with André Schürrle or Leroy Sané on the left.

Germany certainly boast an element of surprise going into Sunday's Group C opener against Ukraine.

Waiting in the wings: Sané and Schürrle
Waiting in the wings: Sané and Schürrle©Getty Images

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