Who's on the Plane? Germany Euros Squad Power Rankings - November 2020

Manuel Neuer was left sitting on the turf, screaming at his post in a fit of frustration echoed around the nation. Yet, he still had two more goals to concede.

Germany's 6-0 drubbing at the hands of Spain was a startling end to not only their international fixtures in 2020 but the era crowned by World Cup glory in 2014.

Or maybe not. After the match Germany's national team director Oliver Bierhoff was steadfast in his support of manager Joachim Low, despite his ever-increasing decline, declaring: "This game changes nothing." But how can it not?

Germany's woes extend beyond that 'dark day' - as Low described it - in Seville and point to a tactical and structural failing more than inadequate personnel. However, Low's sweeping (and hasty) decision to banish World Cup winners Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Thomas Muller has cursed each squad announcement with a long-held English trope (never a good sign): focussing on those who didn't make the cut.

Nevertheless, assuming Bierhoff keeps to his word and Low somehow returns from this nadir to take charge in the summer, here are the 23 who have a seat on the plane, ranked by the certainty of their status in the squad.

23. Bernd Leno

After enjoying the heady heights as Germany's second-choice goalkeeper, facilitated by injury to others, Leno is again vying with Kevin Trapp for the lofty role of a back-up's back-up.

22. Jonathan Tah

A regular in Germany's squads (if not the starting lineup) since the disastrous World Cup, Tah has lost his place in Bayer Leverkusen's first-choice XI which may prompt Low to look for a player with more game-time.

21. Florian Neuhaus

Borussia Monchengladbach's baby-faced midfielder earned his first call-up in September and if he continues to thrive at the heart of the Foals' midfield in the Bundesliga and Europe, there will be plenty more caps.

20. Robin Gosens

Ten goals from wingback last season saw Gosens leapfrog the flailing Nico Schulz in the pecking order on the left side of defence, but hasn't quite fired him ahead of Marcel Halstenberg yet.

19. Robin Koch

Despite leaving, and significantly weakening, the backline of Low's hometown club - Freiburg - Koch's performances in defence and a rare foray in midfield should see his national team manager overlook domestic allegiances (or lack thereof).

18. Marcel Halstenberg

The best part of 18 months separated Halstenberg's first and second caps yet, as Germany's first-choice left-back, the gap between his future appearances will never be as long.

17. Emre Can

Borussia Dortmund's versatile Can provides an option both in defence and midfield and has had his reputation bolstered significantly by avoiding the spanking Spain dished out.

16. Marco Reus

If Marco Reus is fully fit ahead of the summer tournament, his seat on that plane is guaranteed. Unfortunately, his injury record suggests that's a pretty big if.

15. Julian Brandt

At both international and club level, Brandt faces a sickening competition for places. The likelihood of him making the squad far exceeds his chances of troubling the starting XI as things stand.

14. Lukas Klostermann

Having just started to nail down the problematic right-back slot, Klostermann picked up a knee injury ruling him out until December but should return as the first-choice right-back.

13. Antonio Rudiger

At present, Rudiger finds himself in the unique position as a regular for his nation but lucky to be afforded any minutes by his club. Low has been kept abreast of his difficulties and, assuming Rudiger finds some game-time with a January move, he is sure to keep his place with Die Mannschaft.

12. Marc-Andre ter Stegen

Unless Manuel Neuer suffers an injury on the opening day of the tournament, Ter Stegen will be bound to the sidelines and the status of Europe's best second-choice keeper.

11. Ilkay Gundogan

It would be utterly unfair to lay the blame of the Spanish evisceration at the feet of any one player, but Germany's midfield trio looked woefully outmatched and without a plan. Gundogan will surely make the squad but his standing has taken a knock.

10. Niklas Sule

One of many who didn't enjoy their best night against Spain, Germany's surprisingly mobile man-mountain is an excellent defender alongside his club-level pairings and, in the absence of both Boateng and Hummels, is in line for a starting berth at the back.

9. Kai Havertz

A star at club level and as a youth international, it's surely only a matter of time before Germany's senior side is treated to Havertz's beguiling best.

8. Leroy Sane

Back in February - still sidelined with injury - Sane had a distinct possibility of making Germany's squad before the pandemic pushed the Euros back a year. Now with his knee ligaments intact, his place on the plane is all but assured.

7. Matthias Ginter

Ginter has felt the joy of being picked for two separate World Cup squads (winning one of them) and the disappointment of not playing a single minute each summer. Assuming the Euros do go ahead, this will surely be the international tournament in which he not only gets on the plane again, but gets on the pitch.

6. Toni Kroos

Ahead of the previous international break Kroos revealed on his podcast that he only gets a call from Low to tell him he's not in the squad. Regardless of the dent in his reputation the Spain game delivered - not to mention his rapidly deteriorating physicality - if Low is still there in the summer, he almost certainly won't get that call.

5. Leon Goretzka

Having muscled up and into the starting XI for the all-conquering Bayern Munich, Goretzka adds brawn, brains and a goalscoring threat to a midfield which increasingly looks one-paced.

4. Timo Werner

Having been harshly cast as one of the scapegoats back in 2018, Werner has rediscovered his early goalscoring glut for Germany in recent months and provides the clinical edge to his nation's fleet-footed front line.

3. Serge Gnabry

As part of a rapid, interchanging attacking trident, Serge Gnabry has transferred his ridiculously pinpoint finishing prowess from club level to the international stage.

2. Joshua Kimmich

In the three years since Low described Kimmich as 'one of the biggest talents I have seen over the past ten years or so' the 25-year-old has won six major trophies and established himself as one of the best in the world in two different positions.

His standing has only increased after missing the historically bad defeat to Spain.

1. Manuel Neuer

Even when Neuer was barely fit and woefully out of form, Low still picked him. Now that the captain of the best side in Europe is back to his best - and hardly at fault for any of Spain's goals - how can he be overlooked.