Football Wonderkid Scout

 Germany's Under-19s

has been likened to Miroslav Klose who previously played for Werder. Thy has been hailed by national coach Joachim Low as a key player for the future and is widely expected to make his breakthrough in the next year. Providing the ammunition for Lennart Thy was Christopher Buchtmann who is a versatile player previously at Borussia Dortmund but was signed by Liverpool in 2008 and recently transferred to Fulham in 2010 after failing to progress through the academy ranks. Mainly operating as a left winger, Butchmann came to prominence in the tournament and is a key player for the Germany Under-19s.

A former team-mate of Buchtmann at Dortmund, is Mario Goetze who has impressed at international youth level with his solid link-up play, calm finishing and creativity. Former Dortmund and Germany star Matthias Sammer has hailed the prodigious attacking midfielder as one of the greatest talents Germany has ever produced. Now a regular at high flying Dortmund, the Germany U21 star is putting in a number of eye catching displays in the Bundesliga and some have touted him for a fast track route to the senior national team. Goetze recently won the Gold medal in the U18 category in the Fritz Walter Medals, which are distributed for the best German youth talents. Helping to pull the string in Germany's U19 side is 1860 München's Moritz Leitner, who is an attacking midfielder of Austrian decent. Described as the next Michael Ballack, Leitner has been in impressive form this season and his good performances haven't gone unnoticed with Bayer Leverkusen ready to make a move. While Leitner is expected to be sold in January, the midfielder is likely to sign a new contract with 1860 München so they receive a transfer fee for his services and any deal is expected to involve a loan-back option.

Winner of the Fritz Walter gold medal in the U19 category was Peniel Mlapa who stands at 6ft 4 inches at just 19 year-olds. Compared to Emmanuel Adebayor, Mlapa is considered as one of Germany's most promising strikers and has excellent strength and ability which TSG Hoffenheim will hope can lead them to push on in the Bundesliga after finishing eleventh. Born in Togo, Mlapa scored 10 goals in 19 games for 1860 München's U19 side during the 2008/09 season, but it was last season when he came to prominence when he really made his mark for 1860 München in the second tier of German football. After being watched by a number of teams, it was TSG Hoffenheim who made their move and Mlapa signed until 2013. Taking silver medal in the U19 category was Stefan Bell who is a tall centre-back, likened to Per Mertesacker. On loan from FSV Mainz 05 at 2nd Bundesliga side TSV 1860 München, Bell is playing regularly and demonstrating his enormous potential with a number of eye catching displays. An imposing figure at the back, Bundesliga leaders Mainz are already rubbing their hands with glee at the prospect of getting back a player who is deemed one of the best young defenders in Germany.