Find out which England quartet would make the Germany XI
One of football’s great international rivalries is revived tonight, as Germany and England go head-to-head for the ninth time since the turn of the century.
Despite the teams having won four apiece of the previous eight meetings, Joachim Loew’s world champions are understandably strong favourites ahead of tonight’s game in Dortmund. Nevertheless, both sides approach the match with a number of notable absentees, with Harry Kane, Jordan Henderson and Wayne Rooney all out for the visitors, while Germany are set to be without the likes of Mario Gomez, Mesut Ozil and Manuel Neuer.
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With so many players missing, the hope is that the spectacle won’t be diminished, with most still of the opinion that the hosts are stronger across the park than Gareth Southgate’s side. Indeed, based on WhoScored.com league ratings of those in the squads and available for selection, it’s Die Mannschaft that dominate a combined Germany and England XI.
PSG’s Kevin Trapp (6.95) just edges out Tom Heaton (6.91) for the spot in goal - though neither are likely to start on the night - while the likes of Hummels (7.38), Mustafi (7.25) and Hector (7.20) take their places in a back four. England’s Kyle Walker is the only member of the Three Lions rearguard to make the cut, and understandably so after another impressive Premier League campaign with Tottenham (7.30 rating).
Toni Kroos (7.68) is the highest rated player in the XI having registered 10 league assists in a season for the first time in his career, and he will certainly be expected to run the show in Dortmund. The Real Madrid man is joined in the engine room by Hoffenheim captain Sebastian Rudy (7.47), whose versatility is a real asset to both club and country.
However, while Germany are dominant in defence, it’s England that arguably have the in-form attackers in their squad when these two go head-to-head.
Dele Alli (7.29), Ross Barkley (7.19) and Raheem Sterling (7.16) certainly offer encouragement for a bright future in attack under Gareth Southgate, and all three make the grade here ahead of the likes of Ozil, Schurrle and Muller, with the latter enduring a difficult season with Bayern having remarkably netted just twice in 22 Bundesliga appearances. However, with Sterling and the aforementioned Walker both doubts for tonight's game, the odds may well be stacked against the visitors.
Leading the line to complete the XI is RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, hoping to make his senior international debut having enjoyed an excellent season with the Bundesliga’s second placed side. The youngster has scored 14 league goals, which is the joint most alongside Alli of players aged 21 or under in Europe’s top 5 leagues. As a result he easily makes the cut ahead of the likes of Jamie Vardy and Lukas Podolski, who will end a superb international career after tonight’s game on 130 caps, needing two goals to reach a landmark 50 for Die Mannschaft.
