The anticipation levels could not be higher for not only Euro 2020, but Joachim Löw's final tournament as Head Coach of Germany. His time in charge has been topsy-turvy to say the least. The World Cup win in 2014 is undoubtedly the highlight, but the shock early exit from the World Cup group stages in 2018 brought the country back down to Earth.

It's almost time for new man Hansi Flick to take the reigns but before he does, let's take a look at five players who could give Löw the perfect send off.

 

  • Lukas Klostermann (defender)

RB Leipzig's rise through the German football pyramid has been nothing short of miraculous. They may have done it in controversial fashion, but their continual progression up the leagues has turned nobodys into world class stars and Lukas Klostermann has been there every step of the way.

Signing in 2014, the right back has featured for Die Roten Bullen 150 times and made the position his own after returning from the 2016 Olympic Games. His lightning pace and impressive strength mean that he hardly ever gets caught out of position and the 25-year-old was a star turn in his side's run to the semi finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2020. Germany needed a replacement for Philipp Lahm and they may finally have one.

 

  • İlkay Gündoğan (midfielder)

İlkay Gündoğan has had the best season of his life by a country mile. Having played the majority of his career as a creative playmaker, Manchester City were in desperate need of goals from midfield in the early stages of 2020/21, so Pep Guardiola made Gündoğan that man. Despite never being a prolific source of goals, City's no.8 hit double figures in the space of a couple of months to reignite his team's season - ultimately sending them on their way to a third Premier League title in four years.

 

The season, though, ended on a low note as City lost to Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League final, with the absence of a defensive midfielder a big talking point. Gündoğan, then, needs someone alongside him who will protect the back four but, if he has that, his creative juices flow. Not only that, they win matches.

 

  • Jamal Musiala (midfielder)

For all the proven, title-winning, World Cup-winning players Germany boast, arguably the most talked about member of their squad is teenage sensation Jamal Musiala.

At just 18 years old, Musiala is the youngest in the camp, yet he doesn't look out of place - despite only making his debut earlier this year after switching allegiance from England having only played for the Three Lions at youth level. It was a kick in the teeth for English football, but as far as Germany are concerned, they have one of the hottest talents in world football in their ranks. Scoring 6 goals in his debut season at Bayern Munich, the youngster has already shown he is capable of shining alongside world class teammates. Can he do so at Euro 2020?

 

  • Florian Neuhaus (midfielder)

Florian Neuhaus is a proper German footballer. Efficient and understated yet skillful and effective, the 24-year-old has s long international career ahead of him. Borussia Mönchengladbach have a reputation for developing young players and, ever since signing from 1860 Munich in 2017, Neuhaus' attributes have gone from strength to strength.

It's not often that a player has a better goal scoring record for his country than for his club, but Neuhaus' 2 goals in a meagre 6 international caps far outweigh the 13 in 95 appearances for Gladbach. Perhaps Löw sees an aspect of his game which hasn't been fully utilised in the Bundesliga. Whatever it is, it works. He may not start the 'big' games, but be ready to see him make an impact when called upon.

 

  • Kevin Volland (forward)

Any Football Manager fanatic will know that Kevin Volland is on his way to reaching his full potential. Tipped as the next big thing for German football when he broke through at 1899 Hoffenheim, scoring 33 goals in 132 games, the striker made the €18million move up the ladder to Bayer Leverkusen in 2016 where he found the net 44 times in only 115 appearances.

His goals-to-minutes ratio is up there with some of the best finishers in the world and has been for some time, so it was no surprise when AS Monaco swooped in for him back in September. Some saw it as a sideways move but, after registering 16 goals in his debut Ligue 1 season, Joachim Löw had no choice but to include him in the squad for Euro 2020.