FIRST TEAM
07/30/2018

"kicker" names Kramaric second-best striker

The segment of the "German Football Ranking List" that was published this Monday (30 July) named Andrej Kramaric as the second-best striker behind Robert Lewandowski. The duo are joined in the top five by two other players − Serge Gnabry (3rd) and Mark Uth (5th) − who plied their trade at TSG Hoffenheim last season.

Preparations for the new campaign might already be in full swing, but honours from last season are still arriving in droves. The latest segment of the "German Football Ranking" was published by "kicker" on Monday and, as they have in previous instalments, TSG's players scored highly: three forwards who played for the club last season made it into the top five – an outstanding achievement. Andrej Kramaric (2nd) and Serge Gnabry (3rd), who has since joined Bayern Munich, made the "International class" category, while Schalke-bound Mark Uth (5th) was among the "Players of note". Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich tops the leaderboard as the only Bundesliga striker assigned to the "World class" category.

Kramaric, who had been a "Player of focus" at the winter break, will be delighted at being named the second-best striker in the division. "kicker" wrote: "With 11 goals and four assists in 17 league games, Andrej Kramaric made a significant contribution to Champions League qualification. Another goal at the World Cup rounded off a strong six months and catapulted the Croat into the "International class" category." Ulf Kirsten, the striker expert at "kicker", praised the trio: "Andrej Kramaric and Serge Gnabry deserve positions two and three; together with Mark Uth they were the propellers of the Hoffenheim ascent."

Bittencourt in fourth spot

Among the nominees in the "Winger" section was new Hoffenheim signing Leonardo Bittencourt, who made the "Players of note" category while at relegated 1. FC Cologne. He came in fourth spot in the ranking list behind Bayern trio Thomas Müller, Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, making him the best player in his position not playing for the reigning German champions. The signing of the German-Brazilian was a real coup for TSG.

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