'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Reigning world champions Germany will begin their preparations to retain the World Cup crown by hosting rivals Spain in an international friendly at the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf.
The European heavyweights last met in a competitive fixture when the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup pitted them against each other, as La Roja edged Deutschland in a closely fought 1-0 victory. And should both sides finish atop their respective groups in the Russian showpiece, another encounter in the last four awaits us.
So the dress rehearsals for the same begin with this one. Here's how they would stack up in a combined line-up featuring the best from both camps.
Trending
Goalkeeper: David De Gea (Spain/Manchester United)
Manuel Neuer's long-term injury means David De Gea walks straight into our combined XI, or any other line-up in the world for that matter; for the Manchester United shot-stopper continues to go from strength to strength even while the rest of his team blows hot and cold.
De Gea has kept 15 cleansheets in 30 domestic appearances this term, the most in the Premier League at this stage, and only loses out to Everton's Jordan Pickford in the number of average saves per game. The Spaniard's rich vein of form is one of the instrumental reasons for Red Devils sitting pretty in the second place.
A vital figure in Julen Lopetegui's set-up, De Gea is just as important to Spain's fortunes too, and the former world champions would go a long way if he were to replicate the good performances in the main event too.
Right-back: Joshua Kimmich (Germany/Bayern Munich)
Having broken through the ranks at Stuttgart and RB Leipzig as a promising youngster, Kimmich has gone on to become one of the hottest prospects in the world football following his exploits with Bayern.
His performances have drawn him comparisons with former German skipper Philipp Lahm, while manager Joachim Loew has waxed lyrical about him when he said Kimmich is "one of the greatest talents seen in the past decade".
His propinquity to drift forward at every opportunity is a testament to his attacking instincts, while his ability to drive into attacking spaces makes him a huge goal-scoring threat.
Kimmich, one of the stars in Germany's Confederations Cup triumph, is a talent earmarked for the future and the upcoming World Cup serves as a fitting platform to truly announce himself on the international stage too.
Left-back: Jordi Alba (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Whilst the departure of Neymar didn't go down well with the Barcelona board, it has certainly proved to be a blessing in disguise for the full-back who's enjoying perhaps the best season of his career.
The former Valencian bombs forward with greater liberty; running into places that the Brazilian once occupied. This has allowed him to connect with the forwards pretty well, especially with Lionel Messi, and get involved in the attacks handsomely.
His return of 8 assists in the league is the highest for a defender thus far, while the 33 chances he's created trails only Messi and Suarez in the team.
Alba is easily the best left-back in Europe right now and comes into this team without any question.
Centre-back: Gerard Pique (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Another Spanish defender who's at his peak this season, Gerard Pique has successfully shrugged off the struggles of last season to get back into his element and perform like he's never had a bad run. His consistent showings were rewarded last month when the club extended his contract till 2022.
Pique averages over 4 interceptions and one key tackle per game this term, and his towering presence at the heart of the backline has helped Barcelona record 13 cleansheets in 29 league games.
He'd once again be an important part of the Spanish backline while his partnership with great rival Sergio Ramos would be just as vital in helping the Reds fend off challenges from other big teams in the tournament.
Centre-back: Mats Hummels (Germany/FC Bayern Munich)
The former Borussia Dortmund captain is a player reborn under Jupp Heynckes. Following a difficult start to life at Bayern that only threatened to worsen this season, Hummels has successfully got his ducks back in order after Carlo Ancelotti was shown the door, and is breathing new life in his Munich tenure.
Add the erratic form of Sergio Ramos into the mix, and it's all the easier to pick him in this team ahead of the Los Blancos skipper.
His recent bout of injuries saw his defensive actions drop from 6.6 to only 5, but up until that point, he was more involved in the defence than any other Bayern player and has overseen three clean-sheets in four games since returning to the fold.
Midfielder: Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid)
Real Madrid have undergone a considerable upturn in form since the turn of the year and on an individual level, Toni Kroos is one of the key players alongside Cristiano Ronaldo to hit the throttle in the process. The German is back to his creative best whilst also performing admirably in the defensive midfield role.
The current scenario sees Kroos maintain a 92% passing accuracy, which is the sixth-best figure among the midfielders in La Liga, having also laid as many as 6 assists in the league, behind only Karim Benzema (8) and Lukas Vazquez (7). His 43 key passes also dwarfs the likes of Pablo Sarabia, Ever Banega and Koke.
The Real Madrid no.8 was among the prominent members of Germany's 2014 World Cup winning team and would be just as crucial in retaining the crown.
Midfielder: Sergio Busquets (Spain/FC Barcelona)
Touted to be the heartbeat of Barcelona, Sergio Busquets stems perhaps everything coming through the side. He may not be involved in the attack as much nor hog the limelight quite much like most of the stars around him, but the 29-year old remains an indispensable part of both club and country.
He has completed 1571 successful passes in the league, behind only Ivan Rakitic, Asier Illarramendi and Rodri, and has also had 72% success with the take-ons. Barcelona's indomitable midfield is one of the primary reasons for a fantastic league campaign, and Busquets, no doubt, has a huge say in it.
Midfielder: David Silva (Spain/Manchester City)
The Spanish midfield is packed to the rafters with attacking talents, but David Silva stands out after what has been a truly incredible season for him with the Skyblues.
A creative force to be reckoned with, Silva's 9 assists is second only to Kevin De Bruyne and has also weighed in with another 8 goals in the league. He never let his off-field issues creep into his game and delivered consistently whenever on the pitch.
Pep Guardiola has elevated the Spaniard to a whole new level this season, a vital cog behind the scintillating football that Machester City have played throughout the ongoing campaign. He's even touted to be one of the greatest players of Manchester City and then some.
Right-winger: Iago Aspas (Spain/Celta Vigo)
Not really an out-and-out striker, Aspas thrives in the role of a right winger and from 18 appearances as one, he's notched up 8 goals and 3 assists. However, another 8 strikes coupled with 2 assists as a centre-forward accentuates his versatility in the box.
The 30-year old is the most prolific Spanish player in the league currently and one of the few bright spots from an otherwise disappointing Celta Vigo outfit. With Diego Costa still inconsistent in La Roja colours, opting to play the former Liverpool forward through the centre of the vanguard wouldn't be a bad choice.
Left-winger: Leroy Sane (Germany/Manchester City)
Another player to hit his peak under Pep Guardiola this season, Leroy Sane is one of the hot favourites for the best young player award. The 22-year old has scored 8 times and assisted another 11 for the Citizens - trailing only De Bruyne on that account - in the league and manager Loew would be tempted to play him regularly in the starting XI at the World Cup.
His break-neck speed while scorching runs down the flank wears down the opposition defenders, case in point that amazing sprint to lay off for Sergio Aguero's hat-trick against Newcastle United in January. And that's only the tip of the iceberg.
There's more to Sane's game that belies his age, and a talent like him looks firmly on his way to take the world by storm in the coming years.
Striker: Timo Werner (Germany/RB Leipzig)
Ever since RB Leipzig gained promotion to the Bundesliga in 2016, Timo Werner hasn't looked back.
After playing a cardinal role in helping the Saxony outfit claim a stunning runners-up position in their maiden campaign in the top tier, the 22-year old is back in business this term, scoring 11 times already and fresh from guiding his side to a memorable win over Bayern Munich.
Werner has already given a glimpse of his talent on an international platform too, scoring thrice in Germany's Confederations Cup triumph in Russia last summer whilst also setting up Lars Stindl for the winner against Chile in the finals.
He has also been clocked as the fastest player in his team at 21 miles per hour, and third behind only Ihlas Bebou and Marcel Heller in the Bundesliga.
Werner's lightning fast speed makes him an asset during the counter-attacks, and a string of sterling performances this season would surely warrant him an important place in Loew's set-up for the World Cup.
