Can: I'd play anywhere in the national team - GERMANY
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Thanks to their triumph at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™, Germany climbed to the top of the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking. They struggled in their subsequent games, however, in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying for example, and have slipped to fifth in the global standings after suffering a few defeats. One of the reasons for that slump may be down to a number of experienced players retiring from international duty after Brazil 2014, with Philipp Lahm's departure felt in particular.
The World Cup-winning captain was one of the most important members of head coach Joachim Low's side. The Munich native would either pull the strings from a central role in defensive midfield or instigate attacks as a full-back. It is in the latter position especially that Low is now desperately seeking a replacement, and one player is making a strong case to make it his own: Emre Can.
The German, who has Turkish roots, can play both in the back four and in holding midfield, offering Low many options. The 22-year-old has long been considered the successor-elect for Lahm or Bastian Schweinsteiger, giving him some big shoes to fill. Yet it is a situation the Frankfurt-born player has little trouble coping with, having faced a similar one at his club.
The defensive specialist has been at Liverpool since July 2014 and is currently in the process of following in the footsteps of a legend there. After Steven Gerrard's departure, Can was offered the chance to play in his favoured position in central midfield - and has certainly made the most of it. It is clear, then, that succeeding big names holds no fear for him.
Making a name for himself
"It just makes me proud to be compared to someone like Steven Gerrard," the confident but grounded Germany international said in an interview with FIFA.com, downplaying the comparison. Indeed, Can is more interested in standing out for his own merits than being likened to big-name stars: "I'm trying to go my own way. Obviously it'd be great if I also could become as big a player as Gerrard."
It was clear early on that Can has the ability to do just that, and he left home aged 15 to join German record-champions Bayern Munich. His talent also caught the eye of the national set-up, who took him to the FIFA U-17 World Cup Mexico 2011. There, he captained a strong German side to the semi-finals, where they lost to hosts and eventual champions Mexico. Germany went on to finish third and by then Can had caught the attention of the football world.
"Emre is the most complete U-17 player I've ever seen in my career – and I've seen quite a few players," coach Steffen Freund told FIFA.com at the time. "He's got the potential to make it to the very top." It was then that comparisons with Michael Ballack and Schweinsteiger started.
Versatility a double-edged sword
With first-team appearances hard to come by in Munich, Can joined Bundesliga rivals Bayer Leverkusen in 2013 before moving to the Premier League a year later. Now an established top-level player, a problem of sorts nevertheless remains. Can, a 2013 UEFA Champions League winner, is so versatile defensively that he is often asked to play in different positions.
Brendan Rodgers, his first coach at the Reds, fielded him primarily at centre-back; Low plays him mainly on the wing, while under Jurgen Klopp the right-footer is finally able to play in defensive midfield. Jupp Heynckes, who gave Can his professional debut at Bayern, once said: "Emre is a centre-back, he just doesn't know it yet." So what does the player himself think?
"I feel at home in midfield," he replied decisively, even if he is happy to play anywhere. "If the coach needs me at the back then of course I'll do it," he said. "I've heard it said a lot that I could play at centre-back, but other people say in midfield. That's where I feel most comfortable. But I'd play anywhere in the national team."
His flexibility has helped him plug some gaps for Germany. "The national team is a bit different to being at my club because I'm a newcomer," said Can, who made his international debut under Low in September 2015. "Obviously I always want to play. I don't go to international games and say 'OK, now I'm going to sit on the bench'. If I'm called up then I want to play. Obviously I'm aware that the right-back position is still available and I would love to play there."
Olympics or European Championship?
His ultimate objective with Germany, however, is to secure the holding role in central midfield currently reserved for Schweinsteiger. Yet given the latter's injury, it is not yet known if he will be fit in time for UEFA EURO 2016, meaning there could be a place open for Can.
That is, there could have been if Can had not also sustained a serious injury recently. He now faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines and it remains to be seen whether the technically-gifted, tough-tackling all-rounder will recover in time for EURO 2016. If he does not, there is another competition he could feature at: the Men's Olympic Football Tournament at Rio 2016.
Aged just 22, Can, a 2013 German Bundesliga winner, is eligible to participate at the Olympics. He is yet to discuss the matter with Low or Horst Hrubesch, who would coach the team in Brazil, but said: "Obviously I've thought about it and it's what I'd prefer to do."
There, he could lead the young Germany team, a role he is well suited to. "That's what I'm like," Can said. "I enjoy shouldering responsibility. That's how I was when I was younger and that's how I am now. I always want to give everything and above all I want to help the team. Sometimes I'm a bit louder out on the pitch."
If he does manage to play at one of this year's major tournaments it would represent a major step in his development, and would also benefit Germany and Low. After all, Can makes no secret of the fact he would like to take on responsibility in the senior side one day.