Germany U21

Just as Horst Hrubesch, the German U21 national team coach, was ready to pop the cork off the champagne in toasting his side's qualification for the U21 European Championships next summer, he had to face some home truths. He wouldn't be coaching the same team.

Five players - Kevin Volland (captain), Erik Durm, Shkodran Mustafi, Antonio Rüdiger and Matthias Ginter - have been promoted to the national team setup, while this week, four of his potential regular starters have dropped out with injury. Mainz's Loris Karius is the only late replacement for the absentees.

That, in itself, is probably a summation of the strength in depth at the 53-year-old's disposal. There must be something quite enchanting about being able to evolve the U21 team ahead of the U21 Euros - and the 2016 Olympic Football tournament - with a fresh arrival of young and eager professionals.

"From now on we're preparing for the Euros," the U21 coach said this week. "We want to continue where we left-off, so more decisive football and complete domination."

Only the best will do for Germany's preparation for the tournament, and seemingly the best results too. Before they face championship hosts, the Czech Republic, Germany comfortably beat the Netherlands 3-1 with a fine team performance (Armin Younes, Dominique Heintz and Max Meyer). Next year, England and Italy are confirmed opposition. "We have deliberately picked high-profile opponents so that we can prepare for the championships," Hrubsech added.

Strong gloves

Between the sticks, Germany boast three - four, if you include Leno - outstanding goalkeepers. Some top-level teams that would consider themselves as World Cup regulars would dream of the strength in depth the Germans possess in this area.

Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, 22, now plays for Barcelona after leaving Borussia Mönchengladbach in the summer. His deputy, Timo Horn, has cemented a berth as the number one goalie at 1.FC Köln in the Bundesliga, while Karius, the prodigious Mainz stopper, has, arguably, been the pick of the bunch this season.

21-year-old Karius is the next to receive attention outside of Germany, however. Reports last week suggested that Portuguese giants Benfica were looking to sign him at the end of his current contract in Mainz, which expires in June 2015. Karius' team-mate Johannes Geis even attracted interest from AC Milan, according to the Italian media last week.

New vibe

Having lost the influence of Volland in the team, the onus is now on Schalke's Max Meyer, Wolfsburg's Maxi Arnold and Leonardo Bittencourt of Hannover to step up and become more increasingly important U21 players.

The formation, of 4-2-3-1/4-1-2-3, will unlikely be reshuffled as the new additions to the squad will be comfortable in the generic formation of the Bundesliga sides.

Defensively, the team is bolstered by the ever-impressing Julian Korb at Gladbach, now playing regular first-team football, and four 2.Bundesliga-based players who will, perhaps, bring some variation considering their regular exposure to professional first-team action.

Germany's Euro U21 opponents next summer will be the Czechs, Denmark and Serbia.