2019-03-01 World Soccer

SPECIAL FEATURE

I

f, in an explosion of self-

determination, the Ruhr region

of western Germany – once the

hub of the country’s coal and

steel industries – suddenly declared

independence and opted to create

its own representative XI, chances

are it would fare very well indeed.

Both in Germany and beyond, the

football stratosphere is overflowing with

stars who hail from the area known to

locals as “Das Revier”. The list, as long

as one’s arm, features every type of

elite performer: World Cup winners,

Champions League gold medallists,

domestic league standouts and, just

for good measure, a sprinkling of

German national team captains.

Selecting a Ruhr first-choice side

is not the most complicated of tasks.

Bayern Munich and Germany skipper

Manuel Neuer in goal; a back-three

consisting of Liverpool’s Joel Matip,

Kevin Vogt of Hoffenheim and Kaan

Ayhan of Fortuna Dusseldorf; a

system may not have produced many
first-team players but a growing number
have the confidence to seek playing time
abroad, outside the comfort zone of
London clubs’ academies.
In addition to the examples of Sancho
and Nelson, there are other youngsters
who have turned their back on English
professional clubs to move to mainland
Europe.
Lewisham-born Joshua Maja recently
moved to Bordeaux from Sunderland,
while former Crystal Palace trainee
Mandela Egbo left for Borussia
Monchengladbach and Greenwich-born
Marcus McGuane left Arsenal and now
plays for Barcelona B.
Streetwise and confident in their own
abilities, the future is bright for South
London’s young footballers.

high-roller midfield quartet of Ilkay

Gundogan (Manchester City), Leon

Goretzka (Bayern), Marco Reus

(Dortmund) and Mesut Ozil (Arsenal);

Dortmund’s Mario Gotze – who

although born in Bavaria spent most of

his formative years in the Ruhr – as the

false nine and a pair of nimble wingers

in Manchester City’s Leroy Sane and

Julian Draxler of Paris Saint-Germain.

Substitutes would include Hanover

right-back Julian Korb, Mainz engine-

room enforcer Danny Latza, Crystal

The Rhur

GERMANY

Start... Schalke’s

Mesut Ozil (right)

in 2006

Playground...kids

in Gelsenkirchen’s

Bismarck district

Wanted...Callum

Hudson-Odoi