Mesut Özil (German pronunciation: [ˈmeːzut ˈøːzil], Turkish: [meˈsut ˈøzil]; born 15 October 1988) is a German footballer who plays for English club Arsenal and the German national team. Özil has been a youth national team member since 2006, and a member of the German national team since 2009. He gained international attention during the 2010 FIFA World Cup and was nominated for the Golden Ball Award, which is awarded to the tournament’s best player. Özil started his senior career at hometown club Schalke in the Bundesliga in 2006, transferred to Werder Bremen in 2008 and was signed by Real Madrid in August 2010 following his break-out performance at the FIFA World Cup with Germany. On transfer deadline day of summer 2013, he moved to Arsenal for a club-record fee of £42.5 million. The transfer makes him the most expensive German football player of all time.

Özil is acclaimed for his finesse and improvisation as an attacking midfielder. His style and ability for providing assists for his team-mates has been compared by former manager José Mourinho to that of Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane. In 2010–11, Özil ranked first in assists in major European and domestic competitions with 25. In 2011–12, he ranked first in assists in La Liga with 17. Özil was the joint-highest assist provider at both the 2010 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012, registering three at each tournament.

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Background

Shkodran Mustafi (German pronunciation: [ˈʃkoːdʁan ˈmʊstafiː]; born 17 April 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Spanish club Valencia CF and the Germany national team.

He began his career in the youth ranks of Hamburger SV and English club Everton, where he made one substitute appearance in two-and-a-half-years before leaving to Sampdoria in January 2012. He signed a five-year deal at Valencia in August 2014.

Mustafi made his full international debut against Poland on 13 May 2014, and was part of the German team which won the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Bastian Schweinsteiger (pronounced [ˈbasti̯an ˈʃvaɪ̯nʃtaɪ̯ɡɐ]; born 1 August 1984) is a German professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for English club Manchester United and the Germany national team. A right-footed player, he usually plays as central midfielder. Earlier in his career, he primarily played as a wide midfielder. On 2 September 2014, Schweinsteiger was named captain of the national team following Philipp Lahm’s international retirement.

He spent 13 seasons at Bayern Munich, playing in exactly 500 matches across all competitions and scoring 67 goals. His honours at the club include eight Bundesliga titles, seven DFB-Pokal titles, a UEFA Champions League title, a FIFA Club World Cup title and two DFB-Ligapokals. He joined Manchester United in 2015.

Since making his international debut in 2004, he has earned over 100 caps for Germany, scoring 23 goals. He was selected in their squads for three European Championships and as many World Cups, including their victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Background

Benedikt “Benni” Höwedes (German pronunciation: [ˈbɛ.nə.dɪkt ‘hø.ʋɛ.dɛs]; born 29 February 1988) is a German professional footballer and Captain of FC Schalke 04. Benedikt is a defender for the Germany national football team winning the World Cup with them in 2014. He was one of three players to play every single minute of the tournament.

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Mats Julian Hummels (German pronunciation: [ˈmats ˈhʊml̩s]; born 16 December 1988) is a German professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Borussia Dortmund and the German national team.

He came through the Bayern Munich Youth Academy before joining his current club on loan in January 2008 and officially signing for Dortmund in February 2009 for €4 million. His honours at the club include two league titles and finishing as runner up in the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League. In May 2016, Hummels signed a contract with former side Bayern, which would take effect on 1 July 2016.

Hummels has been a full international since 2010, earning over 40 caps and representing Germany at UEFA Euro 2012 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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Jérôme Agyenim Boateng (German pronunciation: [ʒeˈʁoːm bo.aˈtɛŋ]) (born 3 September 1988) is a German footballer who currently plays as adefender for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team. A versatile defender, Boateng primarily is a centre back, although he is a capablefull back on either side. Physically strong and composed, he has garnered a reputation as a tough-tackling defender and is considered to be one of the world’s best at his position.

Boateng started his career at Hertha BSC where he developed from the youth ranks to the main team. After his first season at Hertha he soon signed for Hamburger SV and established himself as an integral part of the team, helping Hamburg reach the two consecutive Europa Leaguesemi-finals. After an unsuccessful season in England with Manchester City, he joined Bayern in 2011 and has since won domestic and European honours with the club, notably the continental treble in the 2012–13 season.

He played in the Germany U-21 side, which won the 2009 Euro U-21 Championship and was soon promoted to the national side. Boateng has since accumulated over 55 caps and represented Germany at UEFA Euro 2012, 2010 World Cup, and 2014 World Cup, the latter of which he was a key member of his country’s victory. He is the younger brother of fellow footballer Kevin-Prince Boateng.

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