Inside Sport

Rising stars


https://forum.insidesport.com.au/Topic769611.aspx

By sydneycroatia58 - 5 Jul 2010 2:52 AM

Quote:
[size=6]Rising stars[/size]
Skysports.com runs through some of Germany's brightest young talents from the World Cup

Germany have taken the football world by storm in South Africa, with a team based on a group of young stars.

England were given advance notice of what was to come when they were hammered in last summer's European Under 21 Championship final in Sweden by a team spearheaded by star man Mesut Ozil.

Half a dozen of that group made it to the World Cup, plus four-goal Thomas Muller, who was not even considered for junior duty 12 months ago because he had still to emerge through the Bayern Munich ranks.

Here, skysports.com looks at four of the men who have turned Germany into world beaters again.

Mesut Ozil
Twenty-one-year-old midfielder from Werder Bremen and the epitome of a 'new' Germany in that his parents are both Turkish and he is a practising Muslim. Did not make his senior debut for Germany until February 2009 but has become the main creative force in Joachim Low's team and attracted lots of attention, from the Premier League and beyond.

Thomas Muller
Came to prominence in Bayern Munich's run to the UEFA Champions League final. Did not make his Germany debut until March and his goalscoring contribution to the group stage win over Australia was only his second start. Scored twice against England and once more against Argentina on Saturday, the right-sided midfielder will miss the semi-final through suspension.

Jerome Boateng
Manchester City will be glad they tied up the £10million transfer of Boateng before the World Cup as the price would undoubtedly have gone up. The 21-year-old has started three games at left-back, including the hammering of Argentina, and has not looked out of place despite being more accustomed to a central defensive role.

Sami Khedira
Skipper of that fabulous U21 side, Khedira has stepped into the slot created by Michael Ballack's injury and performed brilliantly. Superb reading of the game makes him perfect for the holding role English counterparts seem to have so much trouble with. Ever-present in South Africa and another on Arsenal's hit-list.
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12874_6244570,00.html


It's amazing how much some of these youngsters have stepped up. Ozil always had the potential and people who follow German football have known about him for quite a while, but Muller on the other hand really came out of nowhere at Bayern this year and has set the WC alight.

Khedira is another one that has surprised with just how well he's filled in for Ballack.
By simmo_1988 - 5 Jul 2010 9:01 AM

Muller has now had his first consitent run i the side and can show what he is capable of. Ozil has been playing like this for years. But people only take note when they say him on the tv. People who know the game realised how good he was a few years ago.

The other rising starsin my opinion would be Van der Weil (has done a very good job for Holland), I thought a number of the players from Chile did extremely well and one or two of the young Africans. I dont think there has been on stand out young player who has broken on to the scene. Yes, Ozil and Muller have been absolutely fantastic but they have been for a long time not just the in the World Cup.