10 U-23 Players To Keep An Eye On During The World Cup

Leroy Sané could have easily made this list, proving just how much young talent the Germans have, and Sané will be a key player for Die Mannschaft, but Kimmich could be even more important. Pep Guardiola's protégé during the Catalan's time at Bayern Munich, Kimmich has long been lauded as the rightful heir to one of Germany's most legendary players: Philipp Lahm.

He was too young for the 2014 World Cup but played a big part in Germany's success at the 2017 Confederations Cup, notching up a couple of assists during the tournament. The 23-year-old has already earned 27 caps for Germany and scored a few goals, as well as becoming one of the nation's most reliable players, which is no small feat considering the wealth of talent available to Joachim Löw.

An exceptionally versatile footballer, Kimmich will play at right back for Germany but can drift into midfield and has the crossing and dribbling ability to function as a highly productive wing-back, as proven by his 10 assists in the Bundesliga this season. He may be young, but Kimmich has all the composure, maturity, and talent of a much older player.