NIKLAS SULE is the perfect example of Germany’s immense strength in depth.
Even with 27 appearances to his name in the Bundesliga this season for Bayern Munich, Sule isn’t guaranteed of starting Germany’s opener in Russia.
Club-mate Jerome Boateng has been named in Bundestrainer Joachim Low’s provisional 27-man squad despite missing the end of the season with injury.
However, if the Manchester United transfer target doesn’t make it then Sule will step into the side in his place and partner Mats Hummels at centre half.
Ahead of next month’s World Cup in Russia, our friends at Football Whispers have taken a look back over Sule’s career.
Sule first caught the eye with Hoffenheim, joining the club in May 2013 before becoming a first-team regular with the village outfit.
While not spectacular, Sule carved himself out a reputation of being solid, reliable and a trustworthy presence in defence.
A centre-back, he’s extremely well rounded in the duties of the role.
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Coming in at 6ft 5ins, Sule is obviously dominant physically. He’s strong, powerful and can impose himself on attackers. He’s even, given his height, quick.
In a recent battle with live-wire Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey, Sule went toe-to-toe with the Jamaican star and wasn’t found wanting.
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Yu can’t take anything away from his ability on the ball either as he possesses an excellent passing range and can build out from the back adeptly.
This season alone he’s had a pass completion rate of just over 92 per cent – numbers his team-mate Thiago would be proud of.
Sule is a graceful presence when striding out of the backline, able to play the ball into more attack-minded midfielders or take the initiative himself to start attacks.
As a youngster he was seen as a wild, brash character in defence, liable to produce an error or dive in needlessly.
Those are normal traits for a young defender, but there were fears this was just part of Sule’s make-up.
In time, however, playing regularly with Hoffenheim helped him mature and the appointment of the Julian Nagelsmann as coach improved his game greatly.
The two have known each other for some time, both arriving at Hoffenheim in 2010. Sule was a wide-eyed 15-year-old.
Nagelsmann, meanwhile, was a coaching prodigy, despite being just 23 at the time.
This season with Bayern Sule picked up just a single yellow card, emphasising his improving maturity levels.
Nagelsmann’s work with the player has been key and now Jupp Heynckes is applying the finishes touches to his game.
Despite his age, there were shouts for him to be called into Low’s squad for Euro 2016. Then with Hoffenheim, Sule was already impressing.
Ultimately, the tournament passed him by. He did go on to feature in the Olympics however, helping a brilliant German side to a silver medal in Rio.
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A move to Bayern has certainly helped in terms of being thrust into spotlight.
Incredibly, he’s even managed more minutes than close friend Jerome Boateng in the Bayern backline, ironically the man he could eventually replace in the German team.
Sule hasn’t been intimidated by the new found responsibility, if anything it appears to be shaping him into a better player.
His versatility has been key at Bayern. Not only has he played in his regular centre-back slot but, when asked, has filled in at left-back and defensive midfield.
Heynckes has been delighted with this, and every other aspect of Sule’s game and believes he can go to the very top.
“When I look I Sule, he’s going to be a superb player, world class,” Heynckes said.
Low has now noticed Sule who is ideal for tournament football.
Versatility above all is vital when you’re limited as to the names you can pick, and the 22-year-old’s ability to fill in across a variety of roles will be important.
You might even get to see Sule have a stint at centre-forward one day; after all he played that position during his youth team days.
For now he’s more than happy to play wherever his manager at club or country deems best. Wherever it may be, don’t expect Sule to disappoint.
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