Antonio Rüdiger

Rüdiger pairs with Schlotterbeck or Tah at the heart of a back four that has to defend with a high line because of how Kimmich pushes forward. His pace, even now, is what makes that high line possible — without him Germany have to drop ten yards deeper. The bigger question is whether his temperament holds up to the kind of refereeing he tends to attract at major tournaments, where cards have cost him minutes in the past.

Strengths

• recovery pace for a 33-year-old centre-back
• left-footed line-breaking passing
• aerial duels at both ends
• on-field aggression as a tone-setter

Recent form

Returning from injury; played in Real Madrid's late-season run but with managed minutes.

Born in Berlin to a Sierra Leonean father and German mother, he is a vocal advocate for refugee causes — his older brother Sahr ran in Sierra Leone's 2023 presidential primaries.