Germany U19: Champion European U19 2008

Formation: 4-4-2/4-2-3-1

Base team: Ron-Robert Zieler; Dennis Diekmeier, Florian Jungwirth, Stefan Reinartz, Björn Kopplin; Lars Bender, Sven Bender (Danny Latza); Risse/Gebhart, Gebhart/Naki, Nsereko; Naki/Sukuta-Pasu

Key players: Diekmeier, Jungwirth, Lars Bender, Naki

How they played?

Germany was a very solid team that knew how to use his weapons. It is proved by the fact that they won all the games played: 5. Against Spain, Bulgaria and Hungary in Group stage, Czech Republic in semifinals (in extra time), and Italy in the final. They are deserved and honourable champions.

With alternatives in the way they had to play, normally in organised attack Jungwirth was the responsible of playing the ball from his position, without complicating if opponent did a sticky pressure. The right back Diekmeier also was used to bring the ball upwards, he prefered to receive it when he was in a more offenssive position. Constantly going to attack, was very dangerous because he knew how to play with and without the ball posession and could receive both stopped or in movement. His crosses to area were very intelligent, he prefered to pass the ball backwards for the arrival of the miedfielders, mainly without opposition and with time to think before taking the decision -shot or pass-. Risse -right wing- was very important in the correct performance of the team because he continuosly helped Diekemeier offensive and deffensively. The left side was less useful and when they tried it by this way was especially with Nsereko -left wing, right-footed- showing his tricks and individual skills. The centre of the miedfield was very consistent with the brothers Bender, Sven more deffensive and Lars with more freedom to go upwards and with better individual technique. Lars was the "motor" of the team in many stages, he doesn´t lose the ball, distributes it with criteria, sums to attack and give help to teammates, even tries his shot from mid-distance. In attack Gebhart was very important in the offenssive transitions -leading attack after Germany rob a ball- with his power and ball driving. Direct, strong and shooting, also able to give interesting goal passes. He almost played in the centre as an offensive miedfielder, he could also do it as a right wing. Deniz Naki was imagination and quality, however a bit irregular, he didn´t score any goal but he gave lot of dangerous assists and he helped the team with creation in last metres, his movements inside the field were very intelligent. He also tried his shot and showed lot of individual skills. The "goal-striker" was Sukuta-Pasu, who knew how to use his body and get the chances to score. Strong, powerful, with big stride. Nevertheless he needs ti improve his definition.

Deffensively the teammates maintained their positions -Diekmeier was the worst at this- and tried to be well placed, normally everybody was attentive ready to give a teammate help if he needed. Central miedfielder were the most important to stop opponents counterattack and at tackling. In the centre of the deffence Jungwirth was the leader, trying to anticipate to striker if he could and always available to give help and advice to Diekmeier. The left back Kopplin was more deffensive, but right-footed. He was selfless and tried to do his best, however he lacks of a bit of level. Risse was also constantly going backwards and helping or exchanging momentarily positions with Diekmeier, who is selfless and decisive in attack but needs to improve the individual deffence. The other full back Reinartz was very important in aerial game and quite good in his placing, but he needs to be more heavy, and secure with the ball. Lars Bender showed a great tackling ability, also knew how to do tactical fouls. Sven Bender defended more trying to give helps and to be in the right place. Danny Latza, when he played, had similar role to Sven, trying to do coverage to teammates and being solid in the miedfield. Both Nsereko and Risse returned back quite a lot, whilst Gebhart, Naki or Sukuta-Pasu had to make pressure to opponent defence and miedfield, for them not to be confortable in the pitch, and to difficult them their attack.

Top prospects

1. Dennis Naki (also called Deniz)

Superb attacking striker. Lot of imagination, excellent individual technique and many individual skills. Knows how to be decisive being more individual or more colective depending on the moment, loves to be in constant movement and go to sides or down to receive and decide what to do with ball posession. With balanced physic -maybe he needs to improve it- and remarkably quickness, I love his way of playing.

Potential: 9/10
Club: Bayer Leverkusen
Date of birth: 1989



2. Dennis Diekmeier

Awesome performance in all the tournament, in many cases he was decisive from a marginal position like right back. Always available to move forward, very good technically, intelligent inside the pitch, precises crosses, liked to do combinations, also scored a goal. Selfless and fighter in deffence, however he needs to improve in this aspect.

Potential: 8,5/10
Club: Werder Bremen
Date of birth: 1989

3. Lars Bender

Very intelligent and complete central miedfielder, able to attack and defend with lot of efficiency. Quick movements, tall, knows how to use his body, very precise tackling, distributes ball with marvellous criteria, doesn´t get complicated and is rare to see him losing a dangerous ball, likes to go to attack and offer help teammates, specially in sides. His shot is also very interesting.

Potential: 8/10
Club: 1860 Munich
Date of birth: 1989



4. Timo Gebhart

Can play as central offenssive miedfielder and as right wing. Very powerful and strong player, with great individual technique and dangerous shot. His crosses to area are also very dangerous, he enjoys doing ball conductions/drivings and going rapidly to attack after the team regains the ball. Good vision, however sometimes he is too individualist and takes too much time to pass the ball.

Potential: 7,8/10
Club: 1860 Munich
Date of birth: 1989

5. Florian Jungwirth

Very solid, hard and strong full back, always tries to do his best inside the pitch and help the teammates. Excellent team player, is good anticipating to opponent but also sticky in the cover, normally well placed. Available to do coverages to the right back and his partner in the centre of deffence. Acceptable technique, doesn´t complicate with ball, can move forward if he considers appropiate.

Potential: 7,5/10
Club: 1860 Munich
Date of birth: 1989

Very interesting players

Marcel Risse (1989, Bayer Leverkusen): Excellent team player right wing. Complete, selfless and with excellent aerobic and anaerobic capacity. Quick, good technique, dinamic, skillfull, generous. Helps a lot in deffensive game.

Savio Nsereko (1989, Brescia): Skilfull and electric offensive miedfielder. Enjoys trying to beat defenders with his individual skills, needs to improve his game reading. Great aerobic capacity.

Richard Sukuta-Pasu (1990, Bayer Leverkusen): Striker: powerful, strong and with goal. Very difficult to defend, knows how to use his body and also how to receive goal chances. Needs to improve his definition, lacks of some of better technique -isn´t bad anyway-, personally I have doubt of his performances when he will face strong and experienced full backs.

Good teammates (they can have future as professional players)

Ron-Robert Zieler (Manchester United, 1989): Academic goalkeeper, however he lacks of a bit of consistence.

Björn Kopplin (Bayern Munich, 1989): Selfless and quick right back that can also play in left side.

Stefan Reinartz (Bayer Leverkusen, 1989): Calmed full back, very good in aerial game and normally well placed in the pitch.

Sven Bender (1860 Munich, 1989): Agressive deffensive miedfielder, runs lot of metres in each game.

Danny Latza (Schalke 04, 1989): Deffensive miedfielder who does lot of work and doesn´t get complicated with ball.

Written by Joan Peris, 7 August 2008. hoeman5beta@hotmail.com

Recommended links:

The best german generation (Spanish)
Germany U19: Unexpected champion (Portuguese)

Pics: www.uefa.com, www.jamd.com, www.werder.de, www.1asport.de, www.leverkusener-anzeiger.ksta.de