Player Focus: Why Sidney Sam Deserves To Start For Germany

Last season Bayer Leverkusen impressed under the managerial partnership of Sami Hyypia and Sascha Lewandowski. Securing a third place finish in the Bundesliga just 1 point behind Champions League runners’ up Borussia Dortmund, the team won a number of admirers across the continent.

After the season ended, Lewandowski departed the BayArena, leaving Hyypia in sole charge of first-team duties. The former Liverpool defender also saw André Schürrle exit the club, with Chelsea securing the signature of the 22-year-old. While his sale would be a blow to any team, Leverkusen are currently sitting third in Germany’s top tier, 1 point behind league leaders Bayern Munich following last weekend's 1-1 draw with the European champions.

Their form has been impressive, losing just 1 of their opening 8 league games of the season, much of which has been down to the form of Sidney Sam. Replacing a player of Schürrle’s quality, whose average WhoScored rating was a notable 7.62 last term, was portrayed as a mountainous task, but Sam has ensured that has remained a mere mole hill.

The 25-year-old has started all 8 of Leverkusen’s league games this term, playing 679 of the 720 minutes available. At the same stage last season, Sam had made just 3 appearances, all of which were as a substitute, totaling just 82 minutes of Bundesliga football, although part of that was down to injury. While he’s operating on the opposite flank to Schürrle, evidently the wideman is benefitting in the absence of the now Chelsea man.

His potential to excel was always evident, and despite making just 22 appearances last season, only 10 of which were starts, Joachim Löw called him up to his Germany squad to face Ecuador back in May, a game no Bayern or Dortmund players were involved in as a result of the Champions League final. With 3 caps to his name, Sam has the opportunity to add to that in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Republic of Ireland and Sweden.

There are many of the opinion that believe Sam is deserving of a starting role in both encounters and with an average rating of 8.2 this season, only 3 players in Lionel Messi (9.21), Raffael (8.32) and Ricky Álvarez (8.3) have scored higher of every performer to have made at least 3 league starts in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. With 6 goals and 4 assists to his name - no player in the Bundesliga has more accrued more of either - his rating is more than deserved and further strengthens the argument that the winger has earned his place his Löw's 20-man squad.

His WhoScored.com strength of ‘dribbling’ is his primary attacking attribute and it comes as little surprise to have seen Sam successfully take on an opponent an average of 3.9 times per game this season. While 4 players average more successful dribbles per game in the Bundesliga - Franck Ribéry (5.1), Raffael (5), Diego (4.5) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (4.3) - his tally is better than every player in the current Germany squad.

This direct threat on the flank would undoubtedly be an asset to Löw, with former teammate Schürrle the only other out-and-out winger in the current setup, especially in the absence of the injured Marco Reus. The Dortmund attacker is currently averaging 3.9 key passes per game, the most in the Bundesliga this term, while Sam, in comparison, is averaging 3.1. This is likely to be as a result of Reus operating more centrally in contrast to his compatriot, who is utilised primarily on the right flank to attack the opposition.

However, playing in a position that often restricts his impact as a result of hugging the touchline and his key passes per game return becomes that bit more relevant, especially when compared to the players that can operate in a similar position; Schürrle (1.9) and Thomas Müller (1.8). 

More pertinently, of every player in the current Germany squad, only Mesut Özil (4.3) has averaged more key passes per game this season for both Real Madrid and Arsenal than Sam, but the two aren't in direct competition for a single spot in the team. This creative facet of Sam’s game will expectantly aid the national team and it’s feasible that he’ll have the opportunity to do this over the next 2 competitive encounters.

When factoring in that all 6 of Sam’s goals have been left-footed, this gives a clearer indication as to the role he performs with Leverkusen and one that he’d be expected to carry out in the national team, where he could cut from the right and go for goal. It would be Bayern’s Müller that he replaces in the starting XI, should Sam be given the nod, and with his average rating better than Müller’s (7.00) in Germany’s top tier, the calls for the winger to start are not without reason.

He’s been impressive this term as Leverkusen aim to secure their first piece of silverware since 1993 and it wouldn't be farfetched to suggest that Sam is deserving of a chance in the final round of World Cup qualifiers.

Do you think Sidney Sam deserves to be starting for Germany? Let us know in the comments below