5 key players for Germany at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Germany will arrive at the 2014 Brazilian World Cup as one of the hot favourites hoping to break the 3rdplace curse and win the coveted crown which was eluded them for the past 24 years. This would be the 15th consecutive World cup that Germany have qualified for,winning it thrice (1954, 1974, 1990) and finishing runners up on four occasions.The German squad is a mix of experience and youth capable of playing an offensive brand of football which they are famous for. They have one of the best squads in terms of the midfield personnel which is an important department of their team. They have global superstars who are versatile in playing different positions across the midfield which can confound the opponents. Coming into the World Cup on the back of an impressive campaign the German team would be looking to go on all cylinders to get theirs hands on the Cup.We take a look at 5 important players who will make an impact at this World Cup (EDIT: This has been updated after the injury to Marco Reus).You can see the Top 5 players for other teams here:FIFA World Cup top 5 Players for each country

#5 Manuel Neuer

He has been Germanys undisputed No.1 for the past 4 years since he replaced the injured Adler in the 2010 edition of the world cup. The 28 year old has made 45 appearances for the German national team till date. Standing at 193 cm he is widely regarded as one of the most complete goal keepers in the world.

Barring a last minute mishap, he would be on course to play his second world cup on the back of an impressive showing at the qualifiers where he kept five clean sheets. Loew pointed out very recently that He exudes an unbelievable aura which stems from the fact that the shot stopper offers a certain calmness, surety and extra line of protection to the team. He is well known for being highly vocal, authoritative and efficient in organizing the back line be it in set pieces or open play. Renowned in being the best reflex keeper his strengths also include distribution and handling.

This season he has made 48 saves, 95% claim success, 91% distribution success in the Bundesliga which is impressive when compared against keepers from different leagues.

However, certain chinks remain in his armor; he is at times susceptible to long distance shots which might be due to the fact that he faces fewer shots due to the superiority of the Bayern team. Also, at times he is indecisive when coming off his line to save a shot.

He still remains one of the best keepers Germany has ever produced and hence, it will be vital that he is able to shrug off his shoulder injury to bolster the German charge.

#4 Philipp Lahm

Lahm The Magic Dwarf has made over 100 appearances for the German senior team since his debut in 2004, making him the 6th most capped German player ever. Being the captain since 2010, this will be his third world cup till date. One of the most accomplished and versatile fullbacks, he has been instrumental in Germanys 3rdplace finishes in the last two World Cups.

He has picked up several personal accolades over the years, including getting named to the World CupTeam of the Tournament (2006, 2010), Euro Team of the Tournament (2008, 2012) and in the UEFA Team of the Year (2006, 2008, 2012 and 2013).

Lahm as a defender has played with equal success on the left or right flank, although he personally prefers the right side. He has played both these positions for Bayern Munich as well as for Germany. He has a low centre of gravity because of his small stature ensuring that he does not give the ball away easily. He is technically one of best fullbacks which can be epitomized by his defensive balance as well as his attacking prowess. He has a good control of the ball, is adept at one on one situations and his ability to provide dangerous crosses. All these qualities are hallmarks of an astute and gifted fullback.

This season he has been rejuvenated at Bayern after Pep Guardiola moved him to the centre of the midfield. He is 31 and in a phase of his career where searing pace is not his forte anymore. Opportunity due to injuries and the smartness of Guardiola to transform Lahm into a defensive midfielder has revived Lahm and Bayern. The shift to a defensive mid shows Lahms versatility and consistency, as well as his supreme intellect.

#3 Thomas Muller

The Bayern Munich midfielder is another versatile player in the German squad whose playing style is hard to predict and figure out. One of the surprise packages of the 2010 world cup, Muller took the world by storm with his exploits in scoring and creating goals (5 goals and 3 assists) which won him the Golden boot as well as the Young player of the tournament.

Muller can play in various roles particularly central or wide attack. He has all the attributes which make a world-class player: strong and powerful, great finishing ability, work-rate, good footwork, tremendous work ethic attacking as well as defending. His vision in spotting the right pass and the right player makes him one of the best assets that Loew has in his squad.

His versatility coupled with his game intelligence is something that will be very important if Germany is to be successful in this World Cup. Apart from being effective in any one of the front 3 positions in a typical 4-2-3-1 setup, it is his ability to play the False 9 which makes him the most dangerous. Be it any of the formations that Loew goes with (Germany Preview) he will be on the team sheet always.

He will have the advantage of playing with Ozil, Gotze, Reus and Kroos which would only make him more dangerous. Even with his exploits in the International and club level he still remains one of the most undervalued and underrated attacker in the world.

#2 Andre Schurrle

With the absence of Reus in the world cup due to the injury he sustained against Armenia, Schurrle would become one of the natural choices in the first team.

Schurrle has had a difficult yet productive season at Chelsea. A highly talented and a raw player when he made the move to Chelsea last year, he has improved tactically and technically under Mourinho’s leadership. Playing in England has not only helped him develop and mature it has also made him physically stronger.

As Joachim Loew pointed out in an interview, “That year in England has done Schurrle really, really good; you can see it in his appearance and his confidence. He’s played in quite a few big games for Chelsea. He’s become more physical. He’s made a good impression in training and in the matches.”

He may not be a big superstar like Reus, Gotze or Muller but he has the same qualities and attributes like the others i.e. versatility and game intelligence. He is traditionally a left sided midfielder with pace, aggression and an ability to score from different areas of the pitch. It’s his movement off the ball and ability to get into different positions that makes him a key player in the team. His pace, and intelligent movement allow him to get into good positions, and drag opposition defenders out of position.

He can play in any position in the front three and he also has the ability to lead an attack. This is very important trait which Loew would definitely need considering the ‘False 9’ is going to be his favored formation during the World Cup. He has scored goals for Germany but it his ability to create chances for the other team members which sets him apart.

However, the most important attribute that Schurrle has developed over the past year has been his ability to drop back and help the team in defense. As often seen in the second half of the season, Schurrle was continually deployed on the wing where he would create attacks as well as track back and make interceptions once the ball was lost. Loew would definitely want someone from the front three doing it in close matches and Schurrle surely fits the bill.

#1 Mario Gotze

One of the most promising and exciting young talents in Europe, Mario Gotze is a youth product of Borussia Dortmund having played right through the junior teams to the senior squad. In his time at the club he helped Dortmund to two consecutive Bundesliga championships before moving to Bayern Munich last season.

At a tender age of 22, he is technically one of the most gifted players in the world. He has got a brilliant touch, excellent control of the ball, classy dribbling skills and decent finishing skills. He is decently paced but he has got a good burst of speed when needed in one on ones or while counterattacking. However, his two primary strengths lie in his creativity and versatility.

His creativity could be seen in abundance at Dortmund where he was responsible in setting up the goals both in the Champions League and the Bundesliga. He can be very effective in operating as a playmaker in a typical 4-2-3-1 setup.

Like Muller, he is also one of the most versatile players in the German squad. Dubbed as the German Messi, he can be played in a variety of positions. He started his career on the right wing before being moved to a more central playmaker role. His ability to create chances and score from any position is what separates from the other talented attacking players. Being gifted and game intelligent, he has also successfully deputized in the False 9 role for Germany.

Its his technique to find space and create chances for his team mates that makes him so special and a key component for Germany.