Bastian Schweinsteiger, Germany (Bayern Munich)

Germany are chock-full of young attacking talents in Mario Gotze, Marco Reus, Julian Draxler, Mesut Ozil and Andre Schurrle, but the key to their open 4-2-3-1 attack lies deeper in midfield, from where Schweinsteiger's dictates play.

It's telling that Bayern Munich surged to lead the Bundesliga in December but faded away the week that Schweinsteiger suffered an injury. Despite all their attacking talent in Toni Kroos, Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez (all of whom are in the Germany team as well), Schweinsteiger's playmaking abilities were sorely missed and the Bavarians ended up finishing behind champions Borussia Dortmund.

With Germany playing a similar style, Schweini's form will be crucial to how Germany fare.

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