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SOCHI, Russia (AP) — The youngest captain to lead Germany into a tournament in 105 years, Julian Draxler has effortlessly taken on the task of mentoring an inexperienced squad.
All while displaying the versatility linking up attacks that has helped to steer Germany into the Confederations Cup semifinals.
If Germany coach Joachim Loew learns one thing from the World Cup dress rehearsal, it's that the 23-year-old Draxler is a strong contender to one day assume the armband from injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
"The way he is coordinating the young team is very good," Loew said Wednesday. "He is turning into a personality who is in a position to assume responsibilities. He's taking care of younger players and trying to integrate them into the team.
"He is always keeping his mind on what matters on the pitch but also off the pitch he is very sociable with other players as well."
Draxler is far from the youngest player in the squad, but he's the most experienced on the international stage. The semifinal against Mexico on Thursday will be Draxler's 34th appearance for Germany. He is also one of only three members of the World Cup winning squad from 2014 who were included in the experimental group in Russia.
Shkodran Mustafi is another, and the defender is delighted to see Draxler's progress from being a bit-part squad member in Brazil to an integral member of the team in Russia three years on.
"He has got a really bright future in front of him," Mustafi said on the sidelines before training in the southern Russian coastal resort of Sochi. "Talent sometimes is not enough but I think he has the character and the talent, the head, to be the next superstar for sure."
Don't take Germany's word for it. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio spoke Wednesday of his admiration for Draxler's role as Germany's "connector" and the way he finds space in midfield to be the link-man to the forwards.
What Draxler offers Loew is variety. The Paris Saint-Germain player is comfortable on both feet and he is given the freedom to roam across the pitch.
"Julian is a very fast, technically refined player with the ball," Loew said through a translator in the Fisht Stadium in Sochi. "He can travel through longer distances with no problem while keeping the ball and he has very good scoring capabilities."
In the opening win over Australia at the Confederations Cup, Draxler netted his fifth international goal from the penalty spot. In the final group match on Sunday, Draxler's slick back-heel set up Kerem Demirbay for Germany's opener in a 3-1 victory over Cameroon.
Not since the 1912 Olympics there been a younger German captain at a FIFA or UEFA tournament.
"He's not the loudest guy but on the pitch you could see his quality in the three games now and he's talking to the players," midfielder Emre Can said. "He wants to help. He has a lot of experience and he's doing it very well.
"You can see he wants always the ball, he wants always to create something on the pitch and he wants to always score always. You can see that in every game."
Draxler has traveled to Russia after finding some stability in his club career after leaving Wolfsburg for PSG in January for 47 million euros (then about $50 million).
"He is very ambitious," Loew said. "He is a very classy player."
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