Germany National Football Team Formation

Starting Lineup

Nicolo Tresoldi · Said El Mala · Mert Kömür · Aljoscha Kemlein · Anton Kade · Tom Bischof · Linus Gechter · Finn Jeltsch · Mio Backhaus · Joshua Quarshie · Lukas Ullrich

Germany utilize a 5-2-3 formation. This lineup is built to play a high press and look for quick verticality when winning the ball back. The intent is to control the pitch by using width and high defensive positioning to force turnovers in the middle third.

Mio Backhaus stays between the posts to command his area. The defense functions with a back three consisting of Aljoscha Kemlein, Finn Jeltsch, and Joshua Quarshie. Kemlein acts as the central anchor to sweep up long balls, while Jeltsch and Quarshie cover the spaces to the left and right. Lukas Ullrich and Linus Gechter play as wing backs to provide much needed width. They are expected to push high up the pitch to support the attack and track back quickly to maintain a solid block when the team loses possession.

The midfield consists of a double pivot with Tom Bischof and Anton Kade. Both players must work hard to cover the central zones and intercept passes. Bischof looks to drive forward and connect the lines, while Kade provides stability to shield the back three. They act as the engine room, tasked with breaking up play and then immediately looking to switch play to the wide areas.

In the attacking third, Germany use three forwards to pin the opposition back. Nicolo Tresoldi leads the line as a lone striker, tasked to hold up the ball and lead the press. Said El Mala and Mert Kömür operate as wide attackers on the left and right flanks. They look to cut inside or stretch the defense to create space for the wing backs to overlap.

This formation offers clear tactical advantages, such as the ability to press high in coordinated waves with the front three and the wing backs. The heavy presence in the middle during transition allows the team to quickly catch opponents out of position. Having three central defenders also ensures compactness when defending against teams that try to play through the middle.

This 5-2-3 formation is built for aggressive pressing and quick transitions. It is best suited for games against opponents that struggle with high intensity and wide overloads.