PAWEL KAPUSTA / AIPS**, PRAGUE: Six years ago Germany won the U21 Euro in Sweden with players such Manuel Neuer, Mats Hummels and Mesut Özil. Now Horst Hrubesch’s side boast the likes of Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Matthias Ginter and Emre Can.

But, on the eve of their U21 debut against Serbia, manager Horst Hrubesch has a wealth problem: Who will be the first-choice goalkeeper?

Marc-Andre ter Stegen won the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona but that does not guarantee him top spot with his country. Bernd Leno is one of the best goalkeepers in the Bundesliga while Timo Horn is regarded as one of the most talented players in Germany.

“You will know tomorrow, when you see the line-ups”, said Hrubesch after training. Ter Stegen played against Ukraine but Horn had been picked during the qualifiers.

Hrubesch added: “I’ve spoken to my goalkeepers but this is our internal matter. It is always a hard decision. We came here with 23 players but I can pick only 11. The most important thing is, that we like to work together. We have great individuals and a fanstastic team.”

The same happy dilemma concerns other positions in defence (centre-backs) and midfield (centre-midfielders), a signal that German football’s education system continues to work faultlessly.

** AIPS is the international sports journalists’ association with 10,000 members worldwide and is co-operating with UEFA in running a Young Reporters course in the Czech Republic. More information: www.AIPSmedia.com

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