Discussion: Germany's 23 players for the Euro 08 - TalkSoccer

**Oliver_Kahn** · 09-09-2007, 02:44 PM

I know it's very early, we still dont know who will be fit and who wont, but lets speculate who should be the 23 players Löw will call for the Euro, since Germany is just 1 win away from qualifying (which will happen). Imagine that every player will be fit.

My 23 players:

Goalkeepers - Timo Hildebrand (still hope he'll start), Robert Enke (arguably the best GK in the BL atm), Jens Lehmann (Löw will start him

)

Defenders - Philipp Lahm (best german FB), Arne Friedrich (could be useful as he plays RB and CB), Marcell Jansen (best german LB), Christian Pander (usefull player, can play LB and LM), Per Mertesacker (best german CB), Christoph Metzelder (brings experience to the team), Serdar Tasci (been brilliant for VfB)

Midfielders - Michael Ballack (love him or hate him, he is the best German midfielder), Torsten Frings (top 3 DM in the world), Bernd Schneider (gives the team experience and flair), Bastian Schweinsteiger (more and more gaining importance in the NT), Roberto Hilbert (great winger, I'm a big fan of him, can play RB too), Thomas Hitzlsperger (very useful, does brilliantly when called up, plays CM or LM), Gonzalo Castro (Germany need another DM besides Frings and Castro is that DM. awsome player and very young)

Forwards - Miroslav Klose (best German striker), Mario Gomez (the new Ulf Kirsten), Lukas Podolski (still think he can live up to his potencial), Kevin Kuranyi (always does well for the NT), Jan Schlaudraff (a wild card, Löw should give him a go), Patrick Helmes (best striker in 2.BL and one of the most promising in Germany)

Players worth a mention:

- Tim Wiese (he is awsome but Löw doesnt like him it seems)
- Rene Adler (has a lot of potencial but it's too soon for him)
- Manuel Neuer (same as Adler)
- Clemens Fritz (he should be in there, but I couldnt find a place for him)
- Frank Baumann (his NT days are more than over)
- Manuel Friedrich ( I dont like him even tho Löw does)
- Tim Borowski (would get injured 5minst after coming on the pitch)
- Piotr Trochowski (in the same mould as Schweini but he needs to start for HSV first)
- Sebastian Kehl (doesnt have a place anymore but he is very good)
- Kevin-Prince Boateng (should have stayed at Hertha)
- Sami Khedira (brilliant player but I doubt he will have a chance since he never had his debut for Germany)
- Fabian Ernst (always underperforms for Germany)
- Paul Freier (can change a game in a second, but he is too inconsistent)
- Simon Rolfes (tough choice between him and Castro, both are great)
- David Odonkor (needs to leave Betis)
- Gerald Asamoah (he is crap)
- Stefan Kiessling (he is very promising but needs to score more often, isnt NT material yet)
- Benny Lauth (seems reborn at Hannover but not enough)
- Mike Hanke (doing very well for Hannover but he doesnt have much on his game besides heading)

**Trim** · 09-09-2007, 03:04 PM

True. Still early to call, but, a predicition won't do bad anyone.

Goalkeepers

Lehmann, Hilderbrand, Enke

Defenders

Lahm, A. Friedrich, Jansen, Pander, Mertesacker, Metzelder, M. Friedrich

Midfielders

Ballack, Frings, Schneider, Schweinsteiger, Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Trochowski

Forwards

Klose (best German striker), Podolski, Gomez, Kuranyi, Schlaudraff, Helmes

23, damn. Really couldn't find a place for Castro, Freier, Kiessling, Hanke and Odonkor.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 09-09-2007, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trim17

Defenders
M. Friedrich

Fair point, Löw likes him a lot, but I think he is overrated.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trim17

Midfielders
Trochowski

You really think he should go to the Euro ? I mean he doesnt start for HSV, there are better options IMO..

**Podolski** · 09-09-2007, 03:17 PM

Trochowski looked very good yesterday, got involved alot, and 2008 is a year away, I think he'll be good enough. I'll make my choices later.

**Trim** · 09-09-2007, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

Fair point, Löw likes him a lot, but I think he is overrated.
.

I really don't know, but he's rated a lot from people (and in review articles).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

You really think he should go to the Euro ? I mean he doesnt start for HSV, there are better options IMO..

Yeah, but that's only because HSV has some better quality midfielders (not Germans, of course).

Trocho played as a sub yesterday, but not only yesterday.

I really can't imagine Loew leaving him out of Euro 2008.

cassanova · 09-09-2007, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trim17

True. Still early to call, but, a predicition won't do bad anyone.

Goalkeepers

Lehmann, Hilderbrand, Enke

Defenders

Lahm, A. Friedrich, Jansen, Pander, Mertesacker, Metzelder, M. Friedrich

Midfielders

Ballack, Frings, Schneider, Schweinsteiger, Hilbert, Hitzlsperger, Trochowski

Forwards

Klose (best German striker), Podolski, Gomez, Kuranyi, Schlaudraff, Helmes

23, damn. Really couldn't find a place for Castro, Freier, Kiessling, Hanke and Odonkor.

How clueless are you ?
Leaving Wiese, Borowski, Fritz and Baumann out of the team

**Oliver_Kahn** · 09-09-2007, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

How clueless are you ?
Leaving Wiese, Borowski, Fritz and Baumann out of the team

What the hell are you talking about, Baumann is not even good enough to start for Bremen! Fair point about Fritz and Borowski, but Wiese will definately not be in.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Podolski

Trochowski looked very good yesterday, got involved alot, and 2008 is a year away, I think he'll be good enough. I'll make my choices later.

I'm not doubting Trocho's qualities, my point is that Löw cant take players who dont start for their teams when there are other players like Castro/Rolfes/Fritz that start for their teams.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trim17

Yeah, but that's only because HSV has some better quality midfielders (not Germans, of course).

Trocho played as a sub yesterday, but not only yesterday.

I really can't imagine Loew leaving him out of Euro 2008.

I can tbh, Löw said he'll only take starters, so Trocho either starts or he is out of the Eurp, unless there are many injuries of course..

Hans · 09-09-2007, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oliver_Kahn

My 23 players:

Goalkeepers - Timo Hildebrand (still hope he'll start), Robert Enke (arguably the best GK in the BL atm), Jens Lehmann (Löw will start him

)

Defenders - Philipp Lahm (best german FB), Arne Friedrich (could be useful as he plays RB and CB), Marcell Jansen (best german LB), Christian Pander (usefull player, can play LB and LM), Per Mertesacker (best german CB), Christoph Metzelder (brings experience to the team), Serdar Tasci (been brilliant for VfB)

Midfielders - Michael Ballack (love him or hate him, he is the best German midfielder), Torsten Frings (top 3 DM in the world), Bernd Schneider (gives the team experience and flair), Bastian Schweinsteiger (more and more gaining importance in the NT), Roberto Hilbert (great winger, I'm a big fan of him, can play RB too), Thomas Hitzlsperger (very useful, does brilliantly when called up, plays CM or LM), Gonzalo Castro (Germany need another DM besides Frings and Castro is that DM. awsome player and very young)

Forwards - Miroslav Klose (best German striker), Mario Gomez (the new Ulf Kirsten), Lukas Podolski (still think he can live up to his potencial), Kevin Kuranyi (always does well for the NT), Jan Schlaudraff (a wild card, Löw should give him a go), Patrick Helmes (best striker in 2.BL and one of the most promising in Germany)

This list is very accurate, good work, but I would make 3 changes.

Gonzalo isn't ready for such a responsability of playing in a Euro, so I would take Fritz instead of him, who does the whole right flank and starts for Werder Bremen in his prefered position, while Castro who is a defensive midfielder plays as right back for Leverkusen.

I would also call the other of the Friedrich brothers, Arne Friedrich is very slow, he isn't a good right defender and isn't strong enough in the air to be a centre half, while his brother Manuel Friedrich is very good in the air, in the same mould as Per Mertesacker and can also play in front of the defence as defensive midfielder.

My last change would be calling up Sami Khedira instead of Jan Schlaudraff. You make a good point when you say that Jan is a wild card that can change a game in a minute, but if you say Borowski is too injury prone, the same can be said about Jan and also he won't get much playing time at FC Bayern, whereas Khedira is a definate starter for VfB Stuttgart, he will be one of Germany's best midfielders in a few seasons. I hope VfB can hold on to him.

Other than that, I have a few question marks about Patrick Helmes, but looking at the other alternatives, maybe it's better to take Patrick, although in my eyes he is still unproven.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 09-09-2007, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans

Gonzalo isn't ready for such a responsability of playing in a Euro, so I would take Fritz instead of him, who does the whole right flank and starts for Werder Bremen in his prefered position, while Castro who is a defensive midfielder plays as right back for Leverkusen.

&

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans

My last change would be calling up Sami Khedira instead of Jan Schlaudraff. You make a good point when you say that Jan is a wild card that can change a game in a minute, but if you say Borowski is too injury prone, the same can be said about Jan and also he won't get much playing time at FC Bayern, whereas Khedira is a definate starter for VfB Stuttgart, he will be one of Germany's best midfielders in a few seasons. I hope VfB can hold on to him.

Good points and you're probably right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans

I would also call the other of the Friedrich brothers, Arne Friedrich is very slow, he isn't a good right defender and isn't strong enough in the air to be a centre half, while his brother Manuel Friedrich is very good in the air, in the same mould as Per Mertesacker and can also play in front of the defence as defensive midfielder.

You said Arne is slow, but Manuel is even slower and his physical strengh isnt enough IMO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans

Other than that, I have a few question marks about Patrick Helmes, but looking at the other alternatives, maybe it's better to take Patrick, although in my eyes he is still unproven.

The only time he played enough, he was class. Against Denmark, I'd take him.

**Trim** · 10-09-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassanova

How clueless are you ?
Leaving Wiese, Borowski, Fritz and Baumann out of the team

Fair point, I compeltely forgot about Borowski.

Wiese won't be called.

Baumann is too old.

Dunno about Fritz, I have mixed ideas.

ScaryJeff · 10-09-2007, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hans

I would also call the other of the Friedrich brothers, Arne Friedrich is very slow, he isn't a good right defender and isn't strong enough in the air to be a centre half, while his brother Manuel Friedrich is very good in the air, in the same mould as Per Mertesacker and can also play in front of the defence as defensive midfielder.

just a sidenote. manuel and arne are not brothers....

ok here is my lineup.

Goalkeepers - Timo Hildebrand (at some point valencia will have to realize how bad cannizares really is), Robert Enke (solid and has one advantage over the young guns: he won't complain being benched), Jens Lehmann (why, oh why ? well he will start and i will have stomach cramps )

Defenders - Philipp Lahm (no discussion), Arne Friedrich (experience is his factor but in my eyes too slow), Marcell Jansen (starter), Christian Pander (has to improve on the defense), Per Mertesacker (best german CB), Christoph Metzelder (more of a playing cb. löw likes him), manuel friedrich (we need a 3rd cb. he's the best of the bunch)

Midfielders - Michael Ballack (we need him), Torsten Frings (one of the best dm on the planet), Bernd Schneider (most underrated german player), Bastian Schweinsteiger (cornerstone of this team), Tim Borowski (if fit he will have his place), Thomas Hitzlsperger (one of the best players lately),
last place in the mf will be tough. castro, rolfes, khedira, hilbert. with hilbert having the best chance so far

Forwards - Miroslav Klose (best German striker), Mario Gomez (future star), Lukas Podolski (a fixture in the nt), Kevin Kuranyi (no discussion again), Odonkor (a surprise again. he starts this season and his speed might help us more than schlaudraff as a sub), Patrick Helmes (good talent. löw might just throw him in)

Poldi · 10-09-2007, 12:04 PM

I think Low shuld call Borowski and Khediera.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 10-09-2007, 02:47 PM