The big midfielder is on the bench tonight.
So is Draxler, who could be the match-winner.
Looking at these line-ups, have I been under-rating the Germans?
Who don’t need a good team to win a tournament, as we saw in Euro 96, when their best player was midfield stopper Dieter Elts. I was in the press box for that final, when the present General Manager, Oliver Bierhoff, scored a famous golden goal to end the tournament.
GERMANY (possible 3-4-2-1) Neuer; Howedes, Boateng, Hummels; Kimmich, Khedira, Kroos, Hector; Muller, Ozil; Gomez.
Substitutes: Leno, ter Stegen, Mustafi, Schweinsteiger, Schurrle, Podolski, Draxler, Can, Weigl, Tah, Gotze, Sane.
ITALY (possible 3-1-4-2) Buffon; Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini; Parolo; Florenzi, Sturaro, Giaccherini, De Sciglio; Pelle, Eder.
Substitutes: Sirigu, Marchetti, Darmian, Ogbonna, Zaza, Candreva, Immobile, De Rossi, Insigne, Bernardeschi, El Shaarawy.