Game Changer: Sandro Wagner, decisive for Darmstadt

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

When Germany won the U-21 European Championship in 2009, Sandro Wagner scored his side's third and fourth goals in a 4-0 victory over England in the final.

His team-mates that day included Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Benedikt Höwedes, Mats Hummels, Sami Khedira and Mesut Özil, all of whom went on to win the FIFA World Cup with the senior side in Brazil in 2014.

Wagner's career path followed a rather different trajectory to those of his former colleagues in the subsequent years, and despite being widely recognised as a hugely talented striker he was unable to establish himself at SV Werder Bremen, 1. FC Kaiserslautern or Hertha Berlin.

Now, however, the 28-year-old is finally making his mark on the Bundesliga. With 13 league goals and four assists so far this term, the 6'3" forward is spearheading SV Darmstadt 98's pursuit of top-flight football again next season.

- © gettyimages / Alex Grimm
- © gettyimages / Alex Grimm