Expert Blogs

Can Germany cope without Thomas Mueller against Spain? The answer is contained in the very question.

A mere four months ago, when the roving Bayern Munich midfielder was yet to make his debut for Joachim Low's side, the idea that German World Cup chances might be materially influenced let alone be dependent on this 20-year-old would have seemed utterly ridiculous.

After a great start versus Australia and two less convincing games against Serbia and Ghana, Mueller really came into his own in the 4-1 and 4-0 defeats of England and Argentina. Now he's at the point where he is widely considered indispensable, and rightly so. It's not just his eye for goal and his stealthy runs into the box that will be missed in Durban on Wednesday night; Mueller is also a classic "players' player", someone who makes everyone else look better by putting in the work for two people and being always available for a lay off.

"The fact that he's suspended is a serious blow," said Low after the Argentina game. Mueller, a hybrid player who is not easily classified, has no obvious understudy in the German squad. He is quite literally irreplaceable because whoever comes in certainly won't be able do what he does. Low must know that the whole team will have to be recalibrated to allow of the introduction of the Ersatz-Mueller. Here are the options (and the consequences):

1. Toni Kroos

The Bayern Munich midfielder who has just spent two years playing for Bayer Leverkusen is the most obvious candidate to fill Mueller's boots. Aged 20, he's also the youngest player of the DFB World Cup squad and his total number of starts in competitive internationals comes to a small, thin zero.  Kroos is a central midfielder with attacking instincts by trade and a cultured passer of the ball who would have played as a Number Ten in decades past.

Leverkusen has mostly used him on the inside left, where proved adept at playing killer balls and shooting from distance. He's probably the best dead-ball player in the squad. Kroos, who was voted best player at the U17 World Cup in 2007, will be very good at keeping possession and be disciplined when it comes to tracking back. He doesn't provide as much of a goal-threat, however. If Low opts for him, there's a good chance Mesut Özil will have to move out wide a lot, since Kroos will be more comfortable in the middle. Germany will be less fluid up front but perhaps more difficult to break down at the other end. Likely to start? 60 per cent. 

2. Piotr Trochowski

The 26-year-old briefly threatened to usurp Bastian Schweinsteiger on the right side of midfield after the Euros but was then himself ousted by Mueller. "Trotsche", as his teammates call him, has still not quite lived up to his early promise. At 1.68m, the Hamburg player has certainly the right height to take on Xavi et al and he could attack Spain's left-back Joan Capdevila more like an orthodox winger compared to the largely one-paced Mueller. Trochowski also has the experience and is well-liked by both Low and captain Philip Lahm, his potential partner on the right flank.

Unfortunately, he also tends to dwell on the ball too much and tries to shoot from impossible angles a little too frequently. His biggest minus point, however, is lack of heading ability. With Mueller gone, Low can probably not afford to make the team even smaller. Likely to start? 25 per cent.

3. Cacau

He's been unlucky with a muscle strain and still not fully fit after hurting his neck on top of that. The Brazilian-born striker has played out wide for his club VfB Stuttgart in the past, so wouldn't mind a spot of Muellering for Germany. In a way, Cacau, 29, would fit best into Low's ideal system: he's intelligent, diligent and offers pace. Playing him alongside Podolski, another recycled striker moonlighting in midfield, would pose quite a risk, however. It might be too attacking a line-up even for Low's taste. If he's fit he might be better used as an impact sub later on. Likely to start? 15 per cent.

4. Marko Marin

The tricky Werder Bremen midfielder is Germany's most naturally gifted wide player. Marin came on as a sub in the Serbia and Australia games but didn't quite convince, his decision-making can be a bit suspect at times. The 21-year-old has an outside chance to feature as a sub when spaces open up in the second half, but that's as good as it gets for him. A Germany with Marin would be interesting to watch but too light-weight defensively. He's the one young German player who hasn't had a great World Cup yet. Likely to start: no chance.