How Germany's XI may look at Euro 2020
This World Cup is sheer lunacy.
Germany, the once-proud ruler of international football, has been toppled from its throne by a plucky South Korean side. Even if South Korea didn't score two goals in added time to beat Die Mannschaft 2-0, Sweden taking an unexpected 3-0 win over Mexico would have been enough to send the Germans home anyway.
Related: Reigning champion Germany shamed with early elimination from World Cup
But is it time for a huge shake-up of the German Football Association akin to the transformation that occurred in the wake of the Euro 2000 embarrassment? Probably not. The emerging generation in Germany - many of whom collected the 2017 Confederations Cup - are equipped to challenge at the European Championship in two years' time.
The lineup
Manuel Neuer, 32, looked weathered by injury in Russia, so in two years' time could be usurped by his natural successor, Barcelona's Marc-Andre ter Stegen. He will stand behind a familiar-looking defence, albeit with the towering Niklas Sule, then 24, firmly establishing himself as first-choice centre-back ahead of Jerome Boateng, Antonio Rudiger, Matthias Ginter, and Jonathan Tah. The versatile Benjamin Henrichs can push for consideration in this lineup.
With Sami Khedira a distant memory, Julian Weigl can anchor the base of the German midfield, although he can expect pressure from Emre Can and Ilkay Gundogan. Leon Goretzka can provide the link between defence and attack, cutting up opposition play and meeting passes on the half-turn before driving forward, while Julian Draxler will still only be 26 and would hope to be a nailed-down starter. Mesut Ozil and Marco Reus, by then the elder statesmen, will need to impress for minutes, while Mario Gotze needs a sustained run of club football to re-enter the argument.
Are Thomas Muller's days numbered in Germany's frontline? Thirteen league goals across two seasons for Bayern Munich is likely to be trumped by RB Leipzig's Timo Werner over the next two terms, so the latter should retain his spot. Either side of Werner should be Julian Brandt - often a menace on the left for Bayer Leverkusen, but adept on the right - and, on his natural side and back after his World Cup snub, Leroy Sane.
With two years of crafting and honing by Low or his successor, this XI is able to mount a serious pursuit of honours at Euro 2020.