France’s first half demolition job of Iceland has set up what many predicted would be one of the semi-finals this summer in what has been the most unpredictable of tournaments. The hosts must defeat Germany in what will be their toughest test of these Euros by a distance having enjoyed a favourable route to the final four.
Most believe that Thursday’s match will be vital to deciding the Championship, with both sides likely to be strong favourites against either Portugal or Wales. World champions Germany, however, have to overcome the absence of a number of first team players.
Mats Hummels is suspended for the meeting with les Bleus, while both Mario Gomez and Sami Khedira are set to miss out through injury, and it’s the absence of the latter that brings about the greatest selection dilemma to Joachim Loew.
With Bastian Schweinsteiger another injury doubt and unlikely to be able to get through another game in such quick succession having replaced Khedira early on against Italy, Germany are likely to hand a major tournament debut to either Emre Can or Julian Weigl. Both will hope to feature for the first time this summer and may well be the only viable options - in Loew’s opinion at least - to partner Toni Kroos at the base of the midfield.
The Germany boss stated that he has made the mistake of using a player that wasn’t 100% fit in the past and he won’t be doing so again, which may well rule out Schweinsteiger. Loew also confirmed that Joshua Kimmich would not be considered for a role in midfield, despite that being his favoured position, as he has only been used as a full-back this summer.
It opens the door for a player that was tipped to be used at right-back ahead of Kimmich before the tournament, with many surprised not to have seen Emre Can to this point. The versatile Liverpool youngster enjoyed a solid second season at Anfield and really made a place in midfield his own under Jurgen Klopp. Meanwhile Julian Weigl flourished under the heir to the Klopp throne Thomas Tuchel at Dortmund, quickly establishing himself as a first team regular following a summer switch from 1860 Munich.
It’s Can, however, that has rightly emerged as the favourite to stand in for Sami Khedira in Marseille. Indeed, the Liverpool man offers greater physicality in the middle of the park, which may be crucial to counter the threat of Paul Pogba, who is improving with every game after a slow start to the tournament.
Weigl, by comparison, is a player very much in the Kroos mould. A superb distributor of the ball yet to add the variety or range of passing that the Real Madrid man can boast, though at just 20 years of age that’s hardly surprising. Nevertheless, an outstanding 91.9% accuracy ensured that only twelve players in Europe’s top 5 leagues completed more passes than the youngster last season - Kroos included - though while highly commendable his skill set is arguably not what’s required for the upcoming semi-final.
Can, meanwhile, is far more risky in possession but offers drive from deep, which could be crucial in breaking the French lines at the Velodrome. The 22-year old completed 1.3 dribbles per game in the Premier League last season, as well as creating more than double the number of chances that Weigl managed, with the Dortmund midfielder more regimented in terms of his positioning. Therein could lie the danger of opting for Can’s dynamism over Weigl’s more cautious approach.
Nevertheless, the former Bayern midfielder proved time and again last season that he is capable of getting from box to box to prove an asset at both ends, which is the role of Khedira in this Germany set-up, at least when the Juventus midfielder is at his best. Indeed, while Can and Weigl averaged the same number of interceptions per game last season (2.1), the former produced considerably more tackles (2.6 to 1.6) and with France finally beginning to come into their own, Loew will know that protection to a defence without Mats Hummels will be key.
Consequently there’s certainly an argument to be made that Can is perhaps better suited to this particular game in Die Mannschaft’s engine room alongside Kroos than any of his counterparts. The Liverpool middle man will no doubt be desperate for a chance to prove his worth to the national side having been overlooked thus far, and while an identical league rating to Weigl last season of 7.05 may suggest that there’s little separating the two, Can is surely the man for this particular big occasion.
Who should start alongside Kroos in the absence of Khedira against France? Let us know in the comments below
