Sports

 Super Marios? Muller should be Germany's No.9


The Bayern Munich star provided for his country once more during the victory over Scotland and must be considered Joachim Low's top attacking option

By Enis Koylu



The dust has settled on Germany's big night in Rio and Joachim Low's rebuilding job is well under way. After two dour performances and one heavy loss at home later, though, and the jubiliation of their 7-1 thrashing of Brazil has long worn off.

Low was given a task he could hardly have anticapted in July when captain and talisman Philipp Lahm announced his retirement from the international arena. One issue he knew he would have had to deal with, though, was Miroslav Klose leaving the scene.

And the 4-2 loss to Argentina and a narrow 2-1 victory over Scotland have shown just how much the veteran Lazio star will be missed.

Mario Gomez, his heir apparent, started the World Cup final re-match and failed to impress. After missing the best part of the last two years, the Fiorentina striker appeared lethargic and off the boil throughout, missing three presentable chances before being withdrawn to a chorus of boos from the Dusseldorf crowd.

On Sunday, it was another Mario's turn. Gotze's outings as a false No.9 for both club and country have been unconvincing at best and, yet again, the Bayern Munich star failed to impress when leading the line.


Instinct | Muller fires Germany to victory with a close-range effort
It was one of his team-mates at the Allianz Arena who has long looked the most convincing attacking option at Low's disposal. His side's top scorer in the World Cup for the second edition of the competition in a row, Thomas Muller has already scored 24 international goals - and shows no signs of slowing down.

Throughout the victory over Gordon Strachan's side, it was the 24-year-old who looked the biggest threat. Twice he had outleaped his marker in the opening exchanges to meet a cross, sending one header wayward and failing to get the right timing on another. He had laid down his marker, though.

It was not long before he found his range, of course. Sebastian Rudy launched another ball into the box, Muller leapt up and found the back of the net to give his side the lead.

He began the game nominally as a winger, with Gotze through the middle, but the younger Bayern star needs a lot of work if he is to be a realistic option ahead of the 2016 European Championship. For all of his deft touches and crafty movement, he is far better suited to a deeper role, making late runs beyond a more orthodox striker and dictating play.

Muller has a different skillset. He may not be as naturally talented and capable of magic as the likes of Gotze and Marco Reus, but he is stronger and superior in the air, better at holding up the ball and, crucially, finishing chances.

Germany were rather slack against the Scots, getting caught on the counter and creating precious little, for all their domination of play, their opponents came flying out of the blocks after half-time and crafted an equaliser through Ikechi Anya.

Yet again, though, Muller was there. Just minutes after the visitors drew themselves level, a corner came in, was defended abysmally and Germany's hero was in the right place at the right time to capitalise and claim all three points. He was only denied a hat-trick by the post in the dying seconds of injury time.

So, a potential crisis averted and Low can reflect on a job done, even if it was in unconvincing fashion. It was obvious that a front man of Klose's quality, instinct and ability would be missed and though Muller made his name as an attacking midfielder, he is best equipped to replace him.

Gomez and Gotze, as well as Kevin Volland, can provide able back-up for now, but Muller should be the main man up front going forward.