The German national team made quite the statement on Friday night at the Allianz Arena, as the host nations tore through Scotland with a 5-1 victory.
After multiple disappointing international tournaments following their unforgettable World Cup triumph in Brazil, it looks like Germany is well and truly back to being a title favorite under new manager Julian Nagelsmann.
Here are the five best German national team players you need to know at Euro 2024, ranked in order.
5. CM Ilkay Gundogan, Barcelona
Barcelona star Ilkay Gundogan had a fabulous first season in Catalunya, continuing where he left off after winning the Premier League and Champions League with Manchester City in 2022/23.
For years, Gundogan has been one of the best German footballers, and as he has gotten older, he has received more appreciation for his legacy on the game.
Gundogan is one of the most intelligent footballers on the planet, composing sonnets in midfield as a playmaker in the center of the midfield, carefully weighing his passes and positioning himself perfectly.
The 33-year-old was a workhorse for Barcelona last season, leading by example with 5 goals and 9 assists, completing over 90 percent of his pass attempts with nearly 3 key passes per game and more than 2 combined fouls drawn and dribbles completed per contest.
4. CF Kai Havertz, Arsenal
Kai Havertz proved a lot of people wrong last season. Although he started the season a little slowly in a midfield role, he was immediately a quality rotational piece for Arsenal in the middle of the park before returning to superstar status in the attack.
By the end of the season, Havertz was back to being one of the best center forwards in the world, as he finished the campaign with 13 goals and 7 assists for the Gunners.
The former Bayer Leverkusen gem is one of the most talented German players of the last 20 years, and he has a chance to help lead another golden generation in the 2020s and beyond.
Havertz scored and assisted in a quality opening performance against Scotland, and the silky technician can have more defining performances later in the Euro 2024 tournament.
3. AM Jamal Musiala, Bayern Munich
Jamal Musiala is another generational talent and is an even bigger talent at that. He is the crown jewel of Bayern Munich, standing out amongst the big-name stars in the Bayern starting lineup.
One of the best dribblers in the world today, Musiala’s close control is the envy of so many other footballers, and he combines his skills with end product and intelligence.
Musiala has been operating at the highest level in the Bundesliga for years now, though he is still only 21 and merely scratching the surface on the Ballon d’Or winner he will one day become.
The German playmaker scored and completed five dribbles in a mesmerizing performance against Scotland, showing that nobody at this tournament will be able to touch him.
Musiala is clutch, consistent, and dazzling. Plus, with 10 goals and 6 assists last season, he has shown that he can put the ball in the back of the net at nearly the level of a striker.
2. AM Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen
The two-headed beast of Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala will be the best duo to watch at Euro 2024, and it is almost impossible to choose between them.
But after what Wirtz did in leading Bayer Leverkusen to an undefeated Bundesliga season, this 21-year-old playmaker has to get the slight edge.
Wirtz was undeniable in the Euro 2024 opener, too, dismantling Scotland with a goal of his own while flashing the skills that enabled him to complete 2.5 dribbles and 2.3 key passes per game in 2023/24.
The Leverkusen No. 10 had 11 goals and 11 assist for his club side last season, and he is so good at setting up golden opportunities for his teammates.
Wirtz bravely attacks defenses down the middle, taking on one-on-ones before releasing the ball into the space ahead of him at the exact right time; he is a striker’s best friend.
1. CM Toni Kroos, Real Madrid
It is wild to think that even though Toni Kroos was Germany’s highest-rated player at their triumphant 2014 World Cup and was even their best player at the last European Championships, he has long been scapegoated by fans as a problem.
Now, Kroos is back with Germany after a retirement induced by those very bizarre criticisms, perhaps born out of jealousy at the fact that he left Bayern Munich and has won more Champions League title with Real Madrid.
Fresh off his sixth Champions League title victory of his career, during which he owned Bayern in the semifinals, Kroos is in his last footballing competition before heading off to retirement.
Yet Kroos is still the German national team’s best player and, at this rate, could very well end Euro 2024 as the best overall player in the tournament.
Kroos was untouchable against Scotland, completing 101 of his 102 pass attempts with four key passes, always taking the progressive option despite completing literally more than 99 percent of his attempts.
The 34-year-old’s brilliance at the Euros won’t surprise Madridistas in the slightest, and they are honestly only frustrated that it has taken until the final months of Kroos’ illustrious career in order for him to receive recognition as an all-time great from the mainstream.
Look at the numbers he put up for Real Madrid in his last season with them. Kroos had eight assists and two key passes per game, completing nearly 95 percent of his 72 pass attempts per match. He even averaged more than two combined tackles and interceptions per game.
Savor every Toni Kroos action at Euro 2024, because you will never get to watch him or a player anywhere remotely like him for the rest of your lives.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He has been an editor for NFL Spin Zone, Daily DDT for pro wrestling, Autzen Zoo covering the Oregon Ducks, Musket Fire covering the New England Patriots, The Real Champs covering Real Madrid, Old Juve covering Juventus, Rush The Kop covering Liverpool, and Release The Knappen covering Schalke. His work has been featured in ESPN, Bleacher Report, Yahoo! Sports, NBC Sports, and other outlets. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.