World Cup 2018: 5 German stars who should be dropped from the national team

#2 Thomas Müller

Müller has done nothing of note in the last 2 years

The arch-Raumdeuter (interpreter of space), Thomas Müller has been brilliant for Germany and Bayern Munich over the years. However, he has been nothing short of abysmal for the national side in the past two years and made the 23-man party to Russia based purely on past antecedents rather than present form.

Müller's position and role in the German team is one that has taken away one crucial element that made the team tick in the past: pace down the flanks.

With him in the team given the license to roam anywhere, he likes in the frontline (similar to Ozil's role as well), the team's shape has been distorted and the game slowed down so much that Germany has become easy to defend against. His presence has kept out players like Julian Brandt who could have offered the much-needed zing while also creating a problem for striker Timo Werner who had to keep switching to the flanks during Germany's ill-fated title defence.

Müller has not been pulling up trees at club level either and with Bayern's new manager, Niko Kovac looking set to implement a return to the fast-paced. wing-heavy attacking play that Bayern used to be known for, his game time at club level could be even more significantly reduced which should make his place in the national setup untenable for now.