Predicting Germany's Euro 2016 Starting XI

The German national team return to action this Friday with a somewhat patronising affair against lowly Gibraltar, as they look to pick themselves up from a far-from-perfect start to qualification. 

Although still regarded as favourites for Group D of Euro 2016 qualification, the world champions have a lot of rebuilding to do between now and the competition in France as they transition from one generation of players into the next. 

However, the foundations are already notable throughout the squad and when we look closely, we can see snippets of the team that will be hoping to lift their first European Championship trophy since 1996.

Here is how we think Germany will line up in Euro 2016. 

Goalkeeper

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Undoubtedly the easiest prediction to make throughout this squad, the role of goalkeeper within the German national team is Bayern Munich shot-stopper Manuel Neuer's for as long as he desires it. 

Low does of course have some outstanding candidates for No. 2—Roman Weidenfeller, Ron-Robert Zieler and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen to name but a few—yet none of these alternatives bring the qualities that make Neuer shine. 

A potential captain in waiting, Neuer not only possesses all the talent and temperament to succeed in goal but the ability to lead this entire squad. 

Defence

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For the most part, Germany's back line tends to pick itself from one game to the next. As we saw in this summer's World Cup, Low has constantly tinkered with his defensive line, struggling to find peace with its porous nature.

Yet come 2016 we should find a Germany squad with the established pairing of Jerome Boateng and Mats Hummels at the centre of defence, much like we have now. Other, younger players have sprouted up from around the continent—such as Shkodran Mustafi, Matthias Ginter and possibly even Tony Jantschke—but no other central defender has yet been able to match what Boateng and Hummels have accomplished at their own, respective clubs. 

At left-back we're likely to see Low stick with Erik Durm unless some unforeseen circumstance pulls the 22-year-old away from the full-back position. Jurgen Klopp may eventually move the young star over to the right, where he may be better suited as a right-footed player, yet even that is unlikely to alter Low's own plans for the player. Having already overtaken Marcel Schmelzer in the pecking order for club and country, Durm has little competition aside from perhaps Jonas Hector to worry about. 

However, the position of right-back is one that could quite easily go either way. At this moment in time, Low has decided to try out Stuttgart defender Antonio Rudiger, a central defender by nature but perfectly capable at full-back, to mixed results. 

We may in fact see Mustafi, Jantschke or even Durm move into the role between now and 2016, but for now it seems as though Low will stick with the 21-year-old through thick and thin. 

Midfield

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As one would expect, the German national team has rarely been shy of a midfielder or two throughout its time in international football. 

The current situation and what may be in 2016 offers little difference from this scenario, with a number of astute, talented players fighting for just a few, select positions. 

The most notable absence from this selection is of course the current captain of the side, Bastian Schweinsteiger. Although it may seem almost sacrilegious to consider omitting the midfielder, the simple facts of the matter are that the injury-stricken Bayern star is unlikely to be playing international football in two years' time. 

As such, the first player on the midfield team sheet come the summer of 2016 should undoubtedly be Toni Kroos. The former Bayern midfielder has taken to Real Madrid like a duck to water and unless he finds himself in the midst of a Galactico coup d'etat, then he should be one of Germany's leading stars going into the competition. 

With Kroos playing the role of holding midfielder, Low will then turn to Mario Gotze to play the traditional role of No. 10 in the manager's favoured 4-2-3-1 formation. Here Gotze will dictate the transition from defence into attack as the key playmaker in the German side. 

What then comes next is another position that is still up for grabs. Alongside Kroos, Germany will need a midfield tackler; a box-to-box player who can ruffle some feathers and protect the defensive line while Kroos and Gotze pull the strings. 

Low currently employs young Christoph Kramer for such a role, yet we're likely to see Dortmund star Ilkay Gundogan return to the squad once he is fit and back among some form for his club side. 

Both Kramer and Gundogan are young and full of talent, but the Dortmund midfielder simply offers much more on the day. Things may change between now and 2016, and we may even see both feature alongside one another in France, but the safe money is on Klopp's midfield general. 

Forwards

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Oddly enough, the German front line is the most predictable area of Low's side, yet at the same time are still three positions that are clouded by mystery and the simple unknown. 

Since Miroslav Klose retired from international duty following the 2014 World Cup, Low has struggled to fill the void left by the simple yet effective target man. 

Alternative methods such as Gotze as a false No.9 or Max Kruse as a lone striker have tended to offer very little, leading to the suggestion that the simplest and most logical move would be to play Thomas Muller as the frontman. Although the Bayern forward prefers to play off a main striker, he is quite simply the next, best player for the role. 

Elsewhere the only true standalone star to confirm his spot will be Dortmund's Marco Reus, who will undoubtedly stick to the left of the German front line. Whether he's still at the same Bundesliga club by then is anyone's guess, but he'll certainly still be a key figure under Low in two years' time. 

The third and final spot in attack is likely to fall to Chelsea forward Andre Schurrle. The attacking midfielder may only be a backup for Jose Mourinho's side at the moment, yet he has still done more to earn his spot in the team ahead of other young hopefuls such as Julian Draxler and Karim Bellarabi.