Germany 2022: Who stays, who goes?

A few in the sombre squad had managed to bring themselves to tweet and post their disappointment at such an underwhelming defence of their title during the flight, but not everyone was allowed to hide behind their social media accounts.

Moments after stepping through the sliding doors and onto home soil, head coach Joachim Low and captain Manuel Neuer were thrust in front of the microphones to explain and apologise for what national newspaper Bild described as "the biggest disgrace in German World Cup history."

Serious stuff. At least there was precedent for their failure.

Russia 2018 is the third tournament in succession in which the holders have exited at the group stage - it also happened to Italy in 2010, and to Spain in 2014.

Italy were ruthless in dismantling and reassembling a new-look squad following their failure in 2010 - just five players in the squad returned to compete in Brazil four years later.

Spain, by comparison, were a more forgiving of their fallen heroes - 11 of their 23-man squad from 2014 were brought back for this year's tournament.

Which way will Germany go? Their squad was the sixth youngest of the 32 nations in Russia. Some players will be in a good place offer immense value to their campaign to reclaim glory in Qatar in four years' time. Some will have passed their peak - and in the case of a few, perhaps retired altogether.

Others will have simply seen their international careers fall away.

We invite you to tuck this away somewhere safe, put it into hibernation, then bring it out to poke fun at us when 2022 comes around. Here goes...

GOALKEEPERS

MANUEL NEUER
Age: 32 Caps: 79

South Korea's jubilant celebrations painted the picture. The errors are becoming a little more frequent, the air of invincibility fading bit by bit. Neuer, though, remains a significant presence and an important character.

Germany's previous great goalkeeper, Oliver Kahn, was 32 at the 2002 World Cup. He was also included in 2006 but played back-up to Jens Lehmann. Unless he calls it quits beforehand, a similar fate awaits Neuer. He'd have a seat on the plane that takes off for Qatar... and a seat on the bench when it lands.

Verdict: In

MARC-ANDRE TER STEGEN
Age: 26 Caps: 20

It's been hard luck on Ter Stegen up until now that Neuer happens to be playing professional football at the same time that he is - but the Barcelona keeper should have wrestled posession of the No.1 jersey come 2022.

Verdict: In

KEVIN TRAPP
Age: 27 Caps: 3

Predicting the fate of a third-choice keeper is no easy task - what's likely, though, is that competition will be fierce for the final berth between the sticks in four years' time. Trapp will be 31-turning-32, Arsenal's Bernd Leno will be 30, and there's sure to be a bright new contender on the block.

Verdict: Out

DEFENDERS

MARVIN PLATTENHARDT
Age: 26 Caps: 7

Plattenhardt made his unexpected World Cup debut in Die Mannschaft's opening match in Russia, with Jonas Hector laid low with illness. His shaky first involvement almost led to a Mexican goal, after which Toni Kroos avoided passing to the poor guy, so the rumours say. Left-back is Germany's problem position, but a stronger alternative should arrive by 2022.

Verdict: Out

JONAS HECTOR
Age: 28 Caps: 40

New blood might supplant Plattenhardt, but not long-term first-choice Hector, who Joachim Low is quite content to continue to keep faith with, in spite of the 28-year-old playing in the 2.Bundesliga with his beloved Koln next season.

Verdict: In

MATTHIAS GINTER
Age: 24 Caps: 18

Ginter has now been to two World Cups, and he is still yet to play a single minute. However, he is still just 24 and his versatility in defence can't be undervalued.

Verdict: In

MATS HUMMELS
Age: 29 Caps: 66

Hummels comes away from Russia with little blame attributable to him, save for the fair comment that he should have converted at least one of his three huge late chances against South Korea. Qatar will be his World Cup swansong.

Verdict: In

NIKLAS SULE
Age: 22 Caps: 12

The rising Bayern Munich man had a decent game against South Korea, and could soon find himself promoted to the coveted position of Hummels' regular centre-back partner.

Verdict: In

ANTONIO RUDIGER
Age: 25 Caps: 25

Rudiger came in for intense criticism for his performance in Germany's late, late win over Sweden but for now, at least, he's a regular starter for Chelsea and age is well on his side. Four years down the line he'll be a better player, not a worse one.

Verdict: In

JEROME BOATENG
Age: 29 Caps: 73

Boateng struggled with injury at the back end of last season and endured a dreadful time in Russia. He swiftly dismissed any talk of international retirement in wake of Germany's exit, stating his desire to pass his experience to their younger players - which sounded like the words of a man who knows he is winding down. He'll give retirement a second thought after Euro 2020.

Verdict: Out

JOSHUA KIMMICH
Age: 23 Caps: 32

Not much doubt here. Kimmich will be a mainstay of the squad for a long time.

Verdict: In

MIDFIELDERS

SAMI KHEDIRA
Age: 31 Caps: 77

He was too slow, too conservative and far, far too passive in Russia. That Germany were eliminated wasn't down to Khedira by any means, but he was symptomatic of the reasons they failed to live up to expectations.

Verdict: Out

JULIAN DRAXLER
Age: 24 Caps: 46

Draxler is still fresh-faced, but although he managed to rack up more games for PSG in his second season than he did in his first, the feeling remains that he might need a change of scene to maintain his upward curve.

If this is his peak, though, it's enough to keep him well-involved in the Germany set-up. He is still yet to cement his place in the side, but he captained Die Mannshaft's second string at last year's Confederations Cup and was named Player of the Tournament.

Verdict: In

TONI KROOS
Age: 28 Caps: 86

Kroos remans a class act. Germany's defeat to Mexico, which got them off on the wrong foot, wasn't down to a lack of trying or quality on his part. His winning free-kick against Sweden demonstrated the vital contribution he's capable of.

Verdict: In

MESUT OZIL
Age: 29 Caps: 92

How much flak is one man prepared to take? Much ire was directed at Ozil after Germany's exit to South Korea - a match in which he created a tournament-high seven goalscoring chances for his teammates from open play.

The World Cup had served Ozil well up until last week. In the wake of a superb tournament in 2010 he earned a move to Real Madrid. In 2014 he lifted the trophy.

He'll shudder at the memories of 2018 - his third and, probably, final tournament. Much of the love of the fans who voted him the national team's Player of the Year in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2016 has faded away. As he enters his thirties, he'll also need to protect himself physically to prolong his career. If he doesn't call it quits at international level before Euro 2020, it's likely he will do afterwards.

Verdict: Out

LEON GORETZKA
Age: 23 Caps: 16

This tournament came a year too soon for Goretzka. Next season, he'll be playing in the red of Bayern Munich, strengthening his on-field chemistry with their stockpile of national team players. We'll see much more from him at Euro 2020.

Verdict: In

SEBASTIAN RUDY
Age: 28 Caps: 26

Rudy's first World Cup proved to be painful in more ways than one. He was tossed in to start in Germany's second game against Sweden, taking Khedira's place, but lasted only half an hour after Ola Toivonen inadvertently booted him in the face and broke his nose.

He's a fringe player at international level, and there are younger options such as Emre Can and Julian Weigl hovering around the scene.

Verdict: Out

JULIAN BRANDT
Age: 22 Caps: 19

The Bayer Leverkusen livewire was a controversial inclusion in the squad over Leroy Sane, but his impressive off-the-bench cameos justified his selection. Brandt is Die Werkself's most valuable player, and he'll be in his prime in 2022.

Verdict: In

ILKAY GUNDOGAN
Age: 27 Caps: 27

Assuming this injury ordeal that so hampered his first season at Manchester City is well behind him, Gundogan should be able to re-establish himself at international level.

His second season at the Etihad Stadium will shine a greater light on his chances. When he did feature for Pep Guardiola's side in 2017/18, he demonstrated his talents as a neat and intelligent midfielder with great all-round attributes.

Verdict: In

FORWARDS

TIMO WERNER
Age: 22 Caps: 17

Three games, seven shots, zero goals. Like an adolescent taking their first sip of beer, Werner’s first try of the World Cup was overly bitter and pretty unpleasant. But try it again, lad, and you’ll get a taste for it.

His excellent tally of 42 goals over the last two seasons show there's no need to change barrels. He’s the right player at the wrong time for Germany. With better supply, and better luck, he’ll untap his club form and the goals will flow. In 2022, it’s Timo time.

Verdict: In

MARCO REUS
Age: 29 Caps: 34

Reus' World Cup story is a sad one. He missed the squad 2010 and watched from home as other fresh faces of his generation, Khedira, Ozil and Thomas Muller, thrilled in South Africa. He was at the peak of his powers in the run-up to Brazil 2014 only to suffer ankle damage in Germany's final warm-up match and miss the tournament again, as his teammates surged to glory.

Another injury kept him out of UEFA Euro 2016, and he's struggled to return to his early-career form since then. He's 29 and in decline. A shot at redemption in Qatar looks beyond him.

Verdict: Out

THOMAS MULLER
Age: 28 Caps: 94

Is it… is it over? It might be over. After all, the next time Germany play, against Peru in mid-September, Muller's international goal drought will have extended to 18 months. It’s understandable - he’s been at it for nine years. That’s a long time for even the sharpest snipers in history to keep their instincts intact. He's not done at this point, of course not. But in four years' time?

What Muller had - a knack for popping up in the right place, at the right time, and being clinical - it seems he no longer has, certainly not to the same degree. As players age, their attributes change and some flourish in a different role - look at David Silva, or Ashley Young. On the evidence of his displays in Russia, Muller, too, needs to find a new jam.

What Germany have, meanwhile, in Brandt, Draxler, Sane and Serge Gnabry, is an overflowing pool of attacking talent keen to pinch his position on the right wing.

Verdict: Out

MARIO GOMEZ
Age: 32 Caps: 78

Gomez turns 33 on Tuesday. His 31 goals from 78 caps is a very respectable return, having made his World Cup debut as a substitute against Australia in South Africa in 2010, every appearance he's made in the tournament since has been from off the bench, too.

He had the chance to make a decisive impact in Germany's final game but miscued a six-yard tap-in, and now he’s all out of lives. Game over, Mario.

Verdict: Out

HEAD COACH

JOACHIM LOW

The German FA (DFB) had already offered their public support to Low before Germany's third and final Group F match, saying the 58-year-old was their man regardless of whether the team made the knockout stages or not.

"I feel, in spite of the legitimate criticism of our departure, generally much support and encouragement," said Low yesterday, confirming his continuity.

"But now I want to design the rebuilding with full commitment, in time for the start of the new international season in September."

It was only in May that he penned a contract extension to stay on until the end of the 2022 World Cup. Unless something drastic happens - say, they crash and burn in humiliating circumstances at Euro 2020 - he'll see it through. His revolutionary impact on the international team over his 12 years in the role has earned him that.

Verdict: In