World Soccer magazine reporter Nick Bidwell looks at what West Ham United can expect from Werder Bremen in the Betway Cup on Sunday.
The Werder Bremen coach Viktor Skripnik usually goes with a fluid 4-4-2 formation - which could also be described as a 4-1-2-1-2 - featuring a midfield diamond, which for many years has been a Werder hallmark.
In recent times and especially under long-serving coach, Thomas Schaaf, Bremen have had a reputation for free-flowing attacking football, for not worrying too much about the defensive side of things.
But only in charge since last autumn, Skripnik has made them tougher to beat and much more pragmatic.
The key midfield holder Philipp Bargfrede is out injured at the moment and the side's most creative player, Zlatko Junzovic is out too, as is keeper, Raphael Wolf.
Bremen start their season the weekend after next with a first round German Cup tie. They won't go all out against the Hammers.
Their big problem is that their top scorer, Franco Di Santo quit for Schalke a few days ago and now they are rushing to get in a replacement.
I would expect their line-up at the weekend to be something like this:
Wiedwald
Selassie Lukimya Vestergaard Sternberg
Felix Kroos
Fritz Oztunali
Bartels
Ujah Manneh
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of West Ham United
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