Our Stuff Correspondent compares Joachim Löw's team, which he considers Germany's all-time XI, position by position. Do you agree with their decisions? Give us your opinion.
No matter what the outcome of thursday's semifinal against Italy, I think this team from Germany is shaping up to become one of the best for generations. This got me thinking - how could this side compared with a selection of the best in Germany? As a fair test, which limits this to the players I've seen to represent the national team, with my own eyes, so no Gerd Müller Franz Beckenbauer, for example. Below is my opinion, but what is yours? Let me know your thoughts in the box at the bottom of the page.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer v Oliver Kahn - 0-1
Neuer is a great goalkeeper and he is better than Kahn with the ball at his feet. However, Kahn was the undisputed best in the world a decade ago.
Left back Philipp Lahm v Andreas Brehme - 0-2
This is a difficult decision. Lahm is a complete player and one of the most famous sides in the world. However, what was Brehme, a supporter visionary ahead of his time, strong with both feet. Brehme gets the nod for his right leg against the strike of the Netherlands in 1990 the FIFA World Cup and for converting the decisive penalty in Rome a week later.
The central Holger Badstuber v Jurgen Kohler - 01.02
Kohler was not so much a center-back Badstuber as is now outdated and a man marker. Kohler was rated one of the best defenders of his time, but Badstuber keeps getting better and offers more of everything for the whole package.
Matthias Sammer was inspired at EURO '96
The central Mats Hummels v Matthias Sammer - 01.03
Be Sammer was a 'Libero' for Germany, but I liked as a center of defense in my all-time XI in order to help build the game from the bottom. Hummels, a revelation in this tournament, made much the same work, but the desire outstanding Sammer - who helped Germany to the glory of EURO '96 - making the point here.
Right Side: Jerome Boateng v Stefan Reuter - 01.04
This is considered one of the most competitive positions in the current German team and I had trouble selecting one of the past. Reuter pace is what stands out, but ideally, I want a clone of Lahm here.
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger Lothar Matthäus V - 5.1
I'm talking about before Matthäus release here, so please consider the dynamic version of 1990. I remember an Italian newspaper wrote that "seemed to have a steel body, which challenges his opponents bounced." Add a fierce shot with both feet into the mix and Matthäus, one of the greatest midfielders of Germany wins.
Midfielder: Sami Khedira v Stefan Effenberg - 06.01
Effenberg career with the Nationalmannschaft might not be as successful as might have been, but he paired in midfield along with Matthäus would have been sensational.
Left midfielder: Lukas Podolski v Thomas Hassler - 06.02Hassler was a great decade of 1990 and almost universally admired for his skill and dribbling skills. Location Podolski in the current side of Germany, some say, is in danger, but I will give him the nod here because of its record of superior goals (44 in 100 games, compared with 11 Hassler in 101) and added value to assist in the defense.
The attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil Uwe Bein v - 3.6Bein is a selection surprise, but he was one of the worst passers I've ever seen and his ability to carve open a defense was second to none. However, Ozil plays an important role in helping Real Madrid to win the league title last season at the expense of a team of FC Barcelona classified by some as the best club side ever.
The right midfielder Thomas Müller v Andreas Möller - 03.07England fans can skip this paragraph. There have been some suggestions Möller never really lived up to its potential with Germany, but the EURO '96 begs to differ. Twenty-nine goals in 85 caps is a dignified and his technical skills, pace and dribbling eclipse Müller (Marco Reus could be a competitor in a few years, however). The icing on the cake is the way it became his penalty against England in the semi-final despite knowing he was suspended for the Champions.
Striker Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose v - 3.8This is a fun as it is happening right now which is a starting point for the current crop in both directions. Gomez started the UEFA EURO 2012 three games to one of Klose, but Klose incredible amount of goals in major tournaments make it the deadliest German striker I've seen in my life, even better than Jurgen Klinsmann. My admiration for Gomez's no secret, but I will go for Klose, and I think Joachim Löw will against Italy.
No matter what the outcome of thursday's semifinal against Italy, I think this team from Germany is shaping up to become one of the best for generations. This got me thinking - how could this side compared with a selection of the best in Germany? As a fair test, which limits this to the players I've seen to represent the national team, with my own eyes, so no Gerd Müller Franz Beckenbauer, for example. Below is my opinion, but what is yours? Let me know your thoughts in the box at the bottom of the page.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer v Oliver Kahn - 0-1
Neuer is a great goalkeeper and he is better than Kahn with the ball at his feet. However, Kahn was the undisputed best in the world a decade ago.
Left back Philipp Lahm v Andreas Brehme - 0-2
This is a difficult decision. Lahm is a complete player and one of the most famous sides in the world. However, what was Brehme, a supporter visionary ahead of his time, strong with both feet. Brehme gets the nod for his right leg against the strike of the Netherlands in 1990 the FIFA World Cup and for converting the decisive penalty in Rome a week later.
The central Holger Badstuber v Jurgen Kohler - 01.02
Kohler was not so much a center-back Badstuber as is now outdated and a man marker. Kohler was rated one of the best defenders of his time, but Badstuber keeps getting better and offers more of everything for the whole package.
Matthias Sammer was inspired at EURO '96
The central Mats Hummels v Matthias Sammer - 01.03
Be Sammer was a 'Libero' for Germany, but I liked as a center of defense in my all-time XI in order to help build the game from the bottom. Hummels, a revelation in this tournament, made much the same work, but the desire outstanding Sammer - who helped Germany to the glory of EURO '96 - making the point here.
Right Side: Jerome Boateng v Stefan Reuter - 01.04
This is considered one of the most competitive positions in the current German team and I had trouble selecting one of the past. Reuter pace is what stands out, but ideally, I want a clone of Lahm here.
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger Lothar Matthäus V - 5.1
I'm talking about before Matthäus release here, so please consider the dynamic version of 1990. I remember an Italian newspaper wrote that "seemed to have a steel body, which challenges his opponents bounced." Add a fierce shot with both feet into the mix and Matthäus, one of the greatest midfielders of Germany wins.
Midfielder: Sami Khedira v Stefan Effenberg - 06.01
Effenberg career with the Nationalmannschaft might not be as successful as might have been, but he paired in midfield along with Matthäus would have been sensational.
Left midfielder: Lukas Podolski v Thomas Hassler - 06.02Hassler was a great decade of 1990 and almost universally admired for his skill and dribbling skills. Location Podolski in the current side of Germany, some say, is in danger, but I will give him the nod here because of its record of superior goals (44 in 100 games, compared with 11 Hassler in 101) and added value to assist in the defense.
The attacking midfielder Mesut Ozil Uwe Bein v - 3.6Bein is a selection surprise, but he was one of the worst passers I've ever seen and his ability to carve open a defense was second to none. However, Ozil plays an important role in helping Real Madrid to win the league title last season at the expense of a team of FC Barcelona classified by some as the best club side ever.
The right midfielder Thomas Müller v Andreas Möller - 03.07England fans can skip this paragraph. There have been some suggestions Möller never really lived up to its potential with Germany, but the EURO '96 begs to differ. Twenty-nine goals in 85 caps is a dignified and his technical skills, pace and dribbling eclipse Müller (Marco Reus could be a competitor in a few years, however). The icing on the cake is the way it became his penalty against England in the semi-final despite knowing he was suspended for the Champions.
Striker Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose v - 3.8This is a fun as it is happening right now which is a starting point for the current crop in both directions. Gomez started the UEFA EURO 2012 three games to one of Klose, but Klose incredible amount of goals in major tournaments make it the deadliest German striker I've seen in my life, even better than Jurgen Klinsmann. My admiration for Gomez's no secret, but I will go for Klose, and I think Joachim Löw will against Italy.
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