German U21 success paved Höwedes way

Now on the fringes of the senior national team, FC Schalke 04 defender Benedikt Höwedes has told UEFA.com that winning the 2009 UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Germany helped him to take the next step up in his career.

"Those are experiences that make you into a national team player, like the ones you have in the Bundesliga," the 23-year-old centre-back said in an exclusive video interview with UEFA.com. "You present yourself on an international stage, and clubs from all over the world see you."

Höwedes' side thrashed England 4-0 in that 2009 final in Malmo, Sweden, to take the trophy – with their success proving crucial in propelling some of his team-mates into the big time. "Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira are now at Real Madrid [CF]," said the Schalke academy graduate. "That shows you that big clubs see you at tournaments like this."

Germany had lost to England earlier in the eight-team tournament, yet came back stronger under coach Horst Hrubesch's guidance. "We wanted to win that title, and we tried everything and played a really great match [in the final]," Höwedes recalled.