Germany's president honours coach Loew and national team for World Cup performance

BERLIN — Germany's president honoured national coach Joachim Loew and his team on Tuesday for their strong showing at the World Cup in South Africa.

President Christian Wulff handed Loew the country's highest honour — the Federal Order of Merit — at a ceremony at the Bellevue palace in Berlin.

With Chancellor Angela Merkel standing beside him, he also gave Loew's players the Silver Laurel Leaf, Germany's highest recognition for sporting achievement.

Wulff praised Loew as "an exemplary football coach, a model leadership personality, an internationally recognized football expert and a deeply likeable sportsman."

Germany finished third at the World Cup and was praised for its attractive play.

"The team convinced with its elegance, effortlessness, team spirit and playfulness, and can be an example for others," Wulff said.

Referring to the squad's multiethnic makeup, he added that "this team is a mirror of our country's actual society."

World Cup captain Philipp Lahm said the award was a "great incentive" for the future.

"We want finally to bring a title to Germany, of course in the near future," said Lahm.

Germany's last tournament win was the 1996 European Championship.

Germany Captain Philipp Lahm Concerned By Bastian Schweinsteiger Absence In Euro 2012 Qualifiers

Lahm believes some players will have to step up in Schweinsteiger's absence.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm has expressed his anxiety at the absence of midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger for their upcoming Euro 2012 qualifiers but believes the squad is strong enough to cope without him.

The Bayern Munich star had to pull out of the squad because of injury and his club team-mate Lahm believes other players will have to step up in his absence.

"His absence will hurt but we have plenty of players who can come in and do a reliable job, as we saw at the World Cup," he said, according to bundesliga.de.

Germany will host Turkey on October 8 before traveling to Kazakhstan four days later.

Joachim Loew Pleased With Khedira & Mesut Oezil's Development At Real Madrid

Germany coach Joachim Loew has today praise the development of both Sami Khedira and Mesut Oezil at their new club Real Madrid.

"I like [their development] a lot. They have both been playing important roles in Madrid. The fact is that with 20 top players in the squad, they cannot start every game. I spoke with them both and they feel very comfortable there," Loew told Bavarian newspaper TZ.

Loew also moved to quash rumours that both Oezil and Khedira have struggled to adapt to the Spanish culture and learn the language of their new home.

"This has been incorrectly reported. As I said, I spoke to Sami and Mesut. [Jose] Mourinho did not say that. It is quite normal that it takes some time to integrate. Mourinho has not complained about a lack of language skills."

It had been reported that Mourinho claimed after Madrid's 1-0 win in Auxerre that Oezil did not understand his instructions.

Blame players for Bayern slump, says Lahm

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm has urged fans to blame the players for the club's disappointing form.

GettyImages

Philipp Lahm: Bayern are ten points off top spot

Bayern have won only two of their first six Bundesliga matches and are already ten points adrift of league leaders Mainz, who won 2-1 at the Allianz Arena at the weekend.

Club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has defended coach Louis van Gaal and questioned the players and Germany full-back Lahm is in full agreement.

"We have too many players who are performing below their level," he told the Bild newspaper. "If you play like that, then you cannot beat such a euphoric team like Mainz."

Rummenigge has ordered the team to "turn the corner" in tonight's Champions League tie with Basle, a game which Lahm says is now the most important game of the season.

Defeat in Switzerland would increase the media intensity on a club not used to failure.

"We cannot allow that to happen," said Lahm. "We have got to ensure we find our true form immediately. It is going to be really tough for us now to make up this ten-point deficit on Mainz and that is not what we wanted."

Ozil confident of Real Madrid improvement

ADRID, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Ozil said Thursday that he was confident his side would improve its football in the coming weeks.

Real are currently top of the BBVA Primera Liga, but their two home games to date have been disappointing. Although they beat Osasuna 1-0 and Espanyol 3-0, some fans have even booed the team for their dull style of play.

Ozil only joined in the summer after signing from Werder Bremen and he rejected claims that the fans were being over-demanding.

"The fans create a great atmosphere and you can feel it. But when you are on the pitch, you are concentrating so hard that you hardly realize what is going on in the stands. The fans support us for 90 minutes and you could see that against Espanyol," he said in an interview with Diario AS.

Ozil accepted that things cannot go to plan in every game his side plays.

"We are human beings, we are not robots and sometimes things work out better than others. Personally I try and help the team and I am certain that we will play better in the next few matches," said the German international.

"I am certain that the Bernabeu will soon be applauding our football. We are the league leaders and we know that we can improve. It is going to be a long road ahead of us, but we are a young team and we are to develop."

"We are going to get even stronger and the fans are going to enjoy what they see," he said,
Ozil also singled out coach Jose Mourinho for praise.

"He has had success everywhere he has worked and he knows how to get the best out of every player. He is a mix of allowing you freedom while demanding discipline and the team understands that. I think he is the best coach in the World," he concluded.

Bayern Munich defender Philipp Lahm: We can't afford to drop any more points

Bayern Munich full-back Philipp Lahm has warned his side not to drop any points from now on if they want to successfully defend their German Bundesliga title.

Last season's Champions League finalists have made a disappointing start to the 2010-11 campaign and are currently eighth in the league with just eights points from five matches.

Lahm has urged his team-mates to find it within themselves to garner maximum points against league leaders Mainz at the Allianz Arena despite missing key players Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

"We already showed last season that we could play well and win without Franck and Arjen Robben," Lahm is quoted as saying by AFP. "That has to be our objective once again in the new few weeks. "We've already wasted too many points. We have to beat Mainz, otherwise the gap at the top will be simply too big."
Bayern coach Louis van Gaal also underlined the significance of beating Mainz.
"They have great confidence in themselves, they don't hold anything back. But being the leader in September doesn't mean anything."

We Are Still A Team Under Construction - Sami Khedira

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has conceded that the team are not producing vintage performances on the pitch, despite being unbeaten so far in all competitions. Los Blancos leapt to the top of the Primera Division table for the first time this season after defeating Espanyol 3-0 on Tuesday evening, a match in which Khedira arrived as a second half substitute. Speaking at a press conference today, the German also commented on the current bedraggled condition of the Santiago Bernabeu pitch, which coach Jose Mourinho compared to a “potato field.” He remarked: “We are still under construction, and when changing coach and training methods, it remains difficult to win. We are trying to play well, but we know it will be difficult to win every game. “Clearly we are not playing on the best possible pitch. It is not in top condition. But I think from next week it will be better.” Khedira also discussed his continuing adaptation to life in Spain, insisting that he and international colleague Mesut Oezil are working hard to learn the language. He added: “We understand the instructions from Mourinho and if there is any problems we use English, which is the dominant language of most players. However, both Oezil and I are working very hard to learn Spanish.” The former Stuttgart midfielder also said he appreciated the recent criticism of the supporters, adding: “It is normal that those viewing want to see good football. But we must not forget that we have played three games in six days and we have accumulated fatigue.”

Sami Khedira: Cristiano Ronaldo Is An Excellent Team Player

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira has showered praise on Cristiano Ronaldo and says that the Portuguese international is a team player.

"Cristiano Ronaldo is an excellent individualist player, but he is also an excellent team player," said Khedira, according to Madrid's official website. "He plays with the team. He will help us take many points."

The German international then reflected on the Blancos' 3-0 win over Espanyol at the Bernabeu on Tuesday evening.

"We deserved to win against Espanyol. We played an especially fast game in the second half. It wasn't a great performance on our part, but we deserved to win. We have great players."

"Jose Mourinho's style is clearly identifiable. He has a specific style, well-defined tactics and he is a disciplinarian with his men. He uses a solid defence and a very offensive attacking front.

"He gives opponents few chances to score. I am very happy with the role I play on this team."

Khedira concluded by stating the Merengues are focused solely on their upcoming match against Levante on Saturday and are not thinking about the Champions League clash with Auxerre next week.

"We are currently only thinking about Levante. We'll have time to think about the Champions League after the game."

Friedrich sets comeback date

Injured Germany international Arne Friedrich is hopeful that he will return to training with new club Wolfsburg in six weeks.

The defender signed a three-year contract with Steve McClaren's club in July after leaving relegated Hertha Berlin in a cut-price £2million deal.

Friedrich had impressed at this summer's World Cup however, he has been unable to play since undergoing spinal surgery at the end of August.

But the 31-year-old is optimistic that he will be able to return to action by the end of October.

"I hope to be back in training in six weeks' time," he told the German Football Association's official website.

"It would be perfect for me if I could play in two or three matches before the winter break.

"But I must not lose patience and rush back. I need to be patient, not too ambitious. It is important to recover and return when I am 100 per cent fit."

In Friedrich's absence, Wolfsburg have lost all three of their Bundesliga games this season.

Ballack facing tough battle

Thu, Sep 9th, 2010 4:17 pm BdST Dial 2000 from your GP mobile for latest news


Berlin, Sept 9 (bdnews24.com/Reuters) - Germany were at their dazzling best when they crushed Azerbaijan 6-1 to continue their perfect start to Euro 2012 qualifying on Tuesday, sending out a clear message that absent captain Michael Ballack is not being missed.

Germany's fast-paced style and the clinical finishing that was so impressive in their exciting run to the World Cup third spot in July was again evident in Cologne.
"We are having fun, enjoying football and scoring goals," said defender Philipp Lahm.

The 33-year-old Ballack, who missed the World Cup due to an ankle injury and has yet to be recalled because of a lack of match practice, faces a tough battle to get back into Joachim Loew's side.

"It's fun watching this team play. You really feel that the team is well-oiled," Loew told reporters after the game.

"The combinations work very well."

It is difficult to see how Loew, who earlier in the week said Ballack was still part of his plans, could integrate him in this fast and young team with holding midfielders Bastian Schweinsteiger, 26, and Sami Khedira, 23, in superb form.

While being confirmed as captain, Ballack has also been told he will need to win back his starting spot at the expense of one of the two midfielders - an unlikely prospect at present.

Real Madrid's gifted Mesut Ozil has also successfully taken over some of the playmaking duties further down the pitch of the Bayer Leverkusen captain, who opted not to attend the match in Cologne.


"Even after such a game, I still believe there is room for improvement," said striker Miroslav Klose, who netted twice in the game to join Joachim Streich with 55 goals in second place on Germany's top scorers list, behind Gerd Mueller.

"There is still a bit missing in our stamina so it is important not to rest and take that next step," he said, with the Bundesliga having only seen two matchdays so far.

Germany next host Turkey, who have also won two out of two games in Group A, on Oct 8 in Berlin. With Ballack having turned 34 by then, his time in the team could be running out faster than a Germany attack.

Bayern Munich sporting director Christian Nerlinger: Philipp Lahm & Bastian Schweinsteiger not for sale at any price

Germany internationals Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm have been linked with moves away from Bayern Munich on more than one occasion during the summer transfer window, but sporting director Christian Nerlinger has dashed any plans they had of leaving the club.



Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho hasn't given up on signing Schweinsteiger and is reportedly eager to lure the midfielder to the Primera Division next season.


However, Nerlinger has now made it clear that Lahm and Schweinsteiger are not for sale.

"Schweinsteiger is not for sale at any price! It doesn't matter what club makes an offer for him. We simply won't allow him to leave," Nerlinger was quoted as saying by Bild.

"The same thing counts for Lahm. We are looking to build a team around a number of key players and we simply don't want to sell any one of those players."

Schweinsteiger has a contract until the summer of 2012 with Bayern, and Real Madrid are supposedly hopeful that the Bavarians will cash in on the midfielder next summer in order to prevent him from leaving on a free in 2012. Nerlinger is clearly having other plans with the Germany international though.

"I am confident that Bastian will sign a contract extension with Bayern in the near future," Nerlinger finished.

Bremen star Mertesacker suffers broken eye socket

Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker suffered a broken eye socket in Germany's Euro 2012 qualifier against Azerbaijan on Tuesday night, the Bundesliga club have confirmed.

Mertesacker only lasted 11 minutes of the 6-1 victory in Cologne after being caught by an elbow and, after having a gash under his eye stitched, he went to hospital for X-rays.

And those X-rays have revealed a break, with the 71-cap centre half set to undergo further tests later today, although he will not need an operation. It means he is a big doubt for Bremen's league clash with Bayern Munich on Saturday.

A statement on Bremen's website read: "Mertesacker suffered a broken eye socket and a gash under his left eye in the German national team's 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan in the Euro 2012 qualifier in Cologne.

"Doctors said Mertesacker does not need an operation. As planned, the defender drove back to Bremen overnight on Tuesday. He will undergo further examinations on Wednesday.''

Klose scores twice as Germany routs Azerbaijan 6-1 in Euro qualifying

By The Associated Press (CP) – 5 hours ago

COLOGNE, Germany — Miroslav Klose scored twice Tuesday as Germany routed Azerbaijan 6-1 for its second victory in qualifying for the 2012 European Championship.

Defender Heiko Westermann scored in the 28th, Lukas Podolski doubled the lead in the 45th and Klose added the third in first-half injury time.

An own-goal by Rashed Sadygov made it 4-0 in the 53rd before Azerbaijan found the right net in the 57th through a huge mistake by Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who fumbled a corner cross from Vagif Javadov.

Holder Badstuber's header in the 86th made it 5-1, and Klose completed the victory in injury time.

Klose pulled level with Franz Beckenbauer with 103 Germany games. Only three others have played more games — Lothar Matthaeus (150), Juergen Klinsmann (108) and Juergen Kohler (105).

Klose' two goals gave him 55 in a decade of playing for Germany, second on the all-time list behind Gerd Mueller with 68. Klose also scored the only goal in Germany's 1-0 win in Belgium at the start of its Group A qualifying.

"We are still warming up, we are still not at our best so early in the season," Klose said. "We got more confidence at the World Cup, but it's important to make the next step now."

In its first game at home since finishing third at the World Cup in South Africa, Germany dominated from the opening whistle, with Azerbaijan often fielding all 11 men behind the ball.

Azerbaijan goalkeeper Kamran Agayev made a tremendous reflex save on the line, stopping Westermann's header off a corner after 25 minutes as Germany stepped up the pressure.

But Westermann, an early substitute for the injured Per Mertesacker, scored two minutes later after being set up by Klose following a cross from Philipp Lahm. Westermann's first effort from three meters out was blocked by Agayev, but Westermann fired the rebound into the roof of the net.

Klose nearly doubled the lead in the 33rd with his backheel from close range, but Agayev again saved, this time with his foot.

Germany's dominance finally paid off at the end of first halftime with two late goals.

Podolski swapped passes with Mesut Oezil to split open the Azeri defence and slotted the ball inside the left post.

In injury time, Klose was set up by Podolski and scored unmarked from close range.

Sadygov diverted a cross from Sami Khedira into his own net before Neuer's mistake gave Azerbaijan its only goal.

Germany finished strong with two late goals.

"We passed the ball very well," Germany coach Joachim Loew said. "We did not stop attacking even after scoring the first three goals. They defended very deep, in their own penalty area."

Azerbaijan's German coach, Berti Vogts, said his team was "too passive."

"Germany is in another league," Vogts said.

Germany and Turkey both have two wins in their first two qualifying games in Group A.

___

Lineups:

Germany: Manuel Neuer; Sascha Riether, Per Mertesacker (Heiko Westermann, 11), Holger Badstuber, Philipp Lahm, Sami Khedira, Bastian Schweinsteiger (Cacau, 78), Thomas Mueller (Marko Marin, 62), Mesut Oezil, Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose.

Azerbaijan: Kamran Agayev; Maksim Medvedev, Rashad Ferhad Sadygov, Sasha Yunisoglu (Vurgun Huseynov, 56), Elnur Allahverdiyev, Vagif Javadov, Mahir Shukurov, Vugar Nadyrov (Araz Abdullayev, 86), Rail Melikov, Alexandr Chertoganov (Rashad Abulfaz Sadygov, 64), Samir Abbasov.

Joachim Loew Pleased With Germany's Attacking Chemistry

Germany coach Joachim Loew and skipper Philipp Lahm were thoroughly satisfied with tonight's 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan, although Manuel Neuer had a caveat.

By Clark Whitney

Sep 7, 2010 5:53:00 PM

 

Germany head coach Joachim Loew hailed his team for its offensive quality and ruthless nose for goal following an emphatic 6-1 victory over Azerbaijan in tonight's Euro 2012 qualifier.

"The team has some great chemistry," Loew told reporters. "It's fun to see this chemistry again. It's also a good thing that we did not stop after going ahead 3-0, but continued to go for even more."

Skipper Philipp Lahm echoed his coach's sentiments, "Six goals were scored, so we can be satisfied. Our team has to play for fun and score goals. In spite of conceding a goal, we can all be satisfied."

One player who was not entirely satisfied was goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who made a howler that led to Azerbaijan's consolation goal.

"We wanted to keep a clean sheet," the Schalke goalkeeper said. "The goal was just stupid. It's obviously annoying."

In spite of his own self-criticism, Neuer was pleased with the result overall.

"We have carried on the spirit of South Africa. I hope it continues."
Germany, who placed third at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, have won both of their Euro 2012 qualifiers, and lead Group A. They resume their qualifying campaign next month with matches against Turkey and Kazakhstan.

Khedira admits life in Madrid isn't easy

Sami Khedira admits he was left wondering what he let himself in for at Real Madrid after the team drew 0-0 at Real Mallorca in their first league game of the season.

GettyImages

Sami Khedira is still adapting to life in Madrid

Khedira, 23, left Stuttgart for Madrid after an impressive World Cup with Germany this summer, but he has already had a taste of the pressure at the Bernabeu after their opening day disappointment.

However, while he knows life will not be easy in Spain, he intends to prove that he can cut it at the very highest level.

"Everything must be perfect," he toldKicker. "Definitely, the first few weeks are not easy. When you get to a new country and do not speak the language and your team is criticised by the media in the first game, you wonder what you have let yourself in for.

"You have to be extremely strong to bear it, but for me it was clear from the beginning that if you go to Real Madrid, you have to contend with the highest of standards."

Despite the harsh start to life at the club, Khedira, who speaks good English but is now taking Spanish lessons, says the players have made him feel very welcome since his arrival.

He added in the Stuttgarter Nacrichten newspaper: "What's most remarkable is that the team is packed with international stars but there is still a down-to-earth atmosphere. Cristiano Ronaldo has already given me advice.

"Xabi Alonso speaks perfect English. Diarra, who is my main competitor for a place in the midfield, has already told me about the nature of the game in Spain."

Ballack will have to fight for his place, says Khedira

BRUSSELS: With Germany set to open their Euro 2012 qualifier campaign on Friday, captain Michael Ballack has been told he faces a fit to win back his midfield place by Real Madrid's Sami Khedira.

Ballack has been left out of the Germany squad for Friday's match against Belgium in Brussels and next Tuesday's other Group A qualifier against Azerbaijan in Cologne as he recovers from an ankle injury.

The knock kept him out of the World Cup and in his absence Khedira took his place in the heart of Germany's midfield, scoring the goal against  Uruguay which earned the Germans third place in South Africa.

His World Cup performances earned Khedira a 14-million-euro transfer from Stuttgart to Real Madrid and the 23-year-old says veteran Ballack will not just walk back into the national side at his expense.

"In his career, Michael Ballack has done much for German football and has produced several excellent performances at major tournaments," said Khedira.

"But with all due respect to him: that now may no longer matter.

"I know that I do not have to hide and bring to the national team my own style and, hopefully, success."

Since the World Cup, Khedira has taken over the role of leading Germany's defence in midfield and will not surrender his place without a fight.

"There are other excellent midfielders in Germany, not only Michael Ballack," said Khedira with Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes and Stuttgart's Christian Genter also on the fringes of the national squad.

"But anyway, I look only at myself. I was challenging for a place, went to the World Cup and returned as a regular national player," he said.

"And not out of luck, but because I have put in some good performances in South Africa." 

National coach Joachim Loew has said Bastian Schweinsteiger and Khedira form the backbone of his midfield as Germany look to qualify for Euro 2012 to be held in the Ukraine and Poland.

"At the moment, the defensive midfielders are Bastian and Sami, that is set," said the 50-year-old Loew.

Despite being criticised, along with Germany team-mate Mesut Ozil, for his lack of Spanish by Real coach Jose Mourinho since the pair's arrival in the Spanish capital, Khedira says he is working on his languages.

"I have been there now for two or three weeks. My English is so good that I can give and understand all tactical instructions 100 percent," he said.

"Sometimes I understand it, even in Spanish, but of course, I want to learn the language quickly.

"I am now taking private Spanish classes three times a week."

Khedira says he has adjusted to Real's style of play under Mourinho straight away, but is learning fast.

"It is a completely new style of football at Real and a very different philosophy," he said.

"Having played my style of football for 20 years, I can't just change it within three weeks, but I know I am on the right path."

Read more: Ballack will have to fight for his place, says Khedira - Top Stories - Football - Sports - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Ballack-will-have-to-fight-for-his-place-says-Khedira/articleshow/6486748.cms#ixzz0yXCGU1xq

Euro 2012 Qualifier: Belgium 0-1 Germany - Clinical Miroslav Klose grabs victory

Germany kicked off their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with a narrow 1-0 victory in Belgium.

The hosts looked lively at both ends of the pitch for much of the match, but Miroslav Klose's solitary strike early in the second half was enough for the Germans to take three points.

The visitors won the majority of possession and looked the brighter team in terms of passing speed and overall attacking synthesis, but their hosts arguably had the better opportunities in the first half. Following a mistake by Bastian Schweinsteiger, Romelu Lukaku forced a save from Manuel Neuer. Later, Marouane Fellaini nearly played the 17-year-old forward through on goal, but Lukaku was a hair offside.

Following the interval, the Germans' attack sharpened as Schweinsteiger lent his support up front, and not long after the central midfielder made goalkeeper Logan Bailly panic, Klose pounced on his opportunity to strike. Schweinsteiger won the ball off Daniel van Buyten deep in the attacking half before Thomas Mueller slipped a through ball to Klose, who finished coolly.

Later in the game, Germany nearly doubled their advantage after Philipp Lahm's superb run and cut-back to Mueller, but the young forward's shot was pushed just wide of the post. Belgium pressed forward in search of an equaliser and looked bright in spells, but struggled to create scoring opportunities and failed to earn a point.

The result puts Germany level on points with Turkey, who lead Group A following their 3-0 victory in Kazakhstan earlier in the day. Belgium are without points, but have a chance to catch up to Turkey when the two teams face off on Tuesday.

Löw keeps the peace for now by naming Ballack captain of Germany

Soccer can be a cruel game sometimes. You can be the undisputed main man for your country's team and do exceptionally well over two years in the World Cup qualification games. But if you then miss the tournament through no fault of your own, chances are someone else will usurp your place during your injury layoff. And they might keep it, too.

Germany manager Joachim Löw was certainly unwilling to make any special dispensation for a former hero this week, when he addressed his team ahead of the Euro 2012 qualification games against Belgium (on Friday) and Azerbaijan (next Tuesday).

Schalke 04's Manuel Neuer will remain his side's goalkeeper, Löw confirmed. "He played an outstanding World Cup. We were very happy with him," the 50-year-old coach told reporters. This was expected but nevertheless bad news for Rene Adler of Leverkusen, who had been quite brilliant in the German goal before breaking a rib in the run-up to the competition in South Africa.

Few issues have excited the public as much as the debate surrounding the No. 1 position in recent years. This time, however, it was merely a sideshow, completely overshadowed by what the German media have dubbed the "K question." Who will be Germany's Kapitän, the captain?

The answer that Löw gave on Wednesday was Michael Ballack, who did not play in South Africa because of an ankle injury. "After a personal meeting and open, faithful discussions [with Ballack], I have decided that Michael will keep the armband," the coach said. "Philipp Lahm, who filled the role so brilliantly during the World Cup, will remain the deputy captain."

This could be interpreted as a defeat for the fullback from Bayern Munich, who had openly -- and some say somewhat unwisely -- expressed a wish to stay in the job on the eve of the World Cup semifinal against Spain. But Löw's loyalty to Ballack comes with enough caveats to keep the soon-to-be 34-year-old Bayer Leverkusen player fretting about his international future.

"At the moment, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira are first choice in defensive midfield," Löw said. "I frankly told him that he's not ready yet and that the World Cup has created a new situation. But if Ballack comes back and finds his way into the team, he will be captain, too. If Ballack doesn't play, Lahm is captain."

That first "if" is a pretty big one. The former Chelsea player was not called up to the squad this week as he's still trying to regain his fitness. No one knows if he'll be in shape in time to play for the national team in the next round of matches in early October. And even he will be fit enough, Löw's words suggest that he would then still have to get past the favored duo of Schweinsteiger and Khedira. Ballack is but a theoretical captain, a skipper in absentia at the moment.

"A little bit Ballack, a little bit Lahm: Germany's new captain is Ballahm," the newspaper Bild commented sarcastically. It's tempting to deduce that Löw is playing for time with this strange compromise. Should Ballack fail to regain his form in the Bundesliga, he won't have to recall him to the squad -- and Lahm would stay in office by default.

Experienced players like strikers Miroslav Klose (Bayern) and Cacau (Stuttgart) have demanded more respect for Ballack in recent days; Löw's quasi-vow to keep the veteran should be seen in this light. It'll be interesting to find out whether Ballack himself can be placated with this neither-nor solution, however. Germany's best player of his generation has seen Löw get rid of his friend and trusted teammate Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen) in similar fashion before. Frings was slowly edged out of the team after the European championship in 2008, in the absence of a clear statement from the manager. Ballack implicitly accused Löw of dishonesty in the autumn of the same year in a newspaper interview that caused a huge rift. Ballack only apologized for criticizing the manager in public afterward, not for the substance of his allegations. In the player's camp, there are, understandably, worries that Löw could now settle the score by going down the Frings route.

Oliver Bierhoff, the general manager of the national team, has tried to downplay the issue. "The main focus will be on the match against Belgium this week," the 42-year-old Bierhoff told reporters this week. But the Lahm-vs.-Ballack debate does have a significance that goes well beyond the two players in question. It marks a possible watershed issue for the way in which football is talked and thought about in Germany.

Ballack, who has ruled the dressing room with typical alpha male bloody-mindedness in recent years, conforms to the traditional idea of a "leader on the pitch." German soccer used to idolize strong-willed bullies who could be trusted to take on "responsibility" when the going got tough. This anachronistic "leadership" principle still has influential backers. Former German captain and keeper Oliver Kahn, for example, told Munich's Abendzeitung that "there has to be one obvious, definitive boss" in a team.

Löw and his staff beg to differ. "The World Cup has shown that responsibility must be shared by many," Bierhoff said. "One single player can't do it anymore. We need many bosses." He added that the new generation of players was used to a "flat hierarchy." Lahm, a soft-spoken young man with impeccable manners, is not the boss of Schweinsteiger or Mesut Özil, in other words. He "leads" them no more than Carles Puyol leads Xavi or Lionel Messi at Barcelona.

A (long-term) "yes" to Lahm would enable German soccer to emancipate itself from one of the few remaining backward obsessions. The cruel irony is that Ballack would be the victim of this development. He spent a good part of his career arguing that a functioning collective was much more important than an all-powerful leader, before deciding that he better give the public what it wanted.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/raphael_honigstein/09/01/germany.captaincy/#ixzz0yRFZNa5e

Lahm accepts captaincy snub

Stand-in skipper Philipp Lahm has insisted he has no problem with Joachim Low's decision to retain Michael Ballack as permanent Germany captain.

Lahm was given the armband for the World Cup in South Africa after Ballack was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Ballack remains absent for Friday's opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Belgium but Low has made it clear he will keep the role when fit again.

Lahm, who will lead the side out in Brussels on Friday, stated during the World Cup that he would not surrender the captaincy unless asked to do so.

He maintains that he will respect Low's wishes, although his immediate focus is on making a strong start on the long road to Poland and Ukraine.

"You have to accept such decisions," said Lahm, who led Germany to third place in the South Africa finals.

"Now it is up to me to lead the team again in the next two games as captain.

"I am looking forward to it and I have the confidence of the players around me and I am looking forward to leading them."

Stand-in skipper Lahm brushes off captaincy snub

(AFP) – 14 hours ago

BRUSSELS — Stand-in Germany captain Philipp Lahm on Thursday denied he had any problems with coach Joachim Loew's decision to retain Michael Ballack as permanent skipper for the Euro 2012 campaign.

Ballack, 34 later this month, is out of Friday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Belgium in Brussels as he recovers from the ankle injury which ruled him out of the World Cup, but will captain Germany again when he returns.

In his absence, Lahm will take over where he left off in South Africa by captaining the side against the Belgians, but Loew has said Lahm will lose the skipper's armband once Ballack returns from injury.

"You have to accept such decisions," said Lahm, who led Germany to third at the World Cup, at the German team's hotel on the outskirts of Brussels.

"Now it is up to me to lead the team again in the next two games as captain.

"I am looking forward to it and I have the confidence of the players around me and I am looking forward to leading them."

Loew announced the decision on Wednesday to stick with Ballack as his captain, but until he recovers from injury, Lahm will captain the side with Bastian Schweinsteiger as his deputy.

The decision has not been greeted with universal praise in Germany with many football fans happy with Lahm's style of captaincy, while Ballack has clashed with both national team-mates and coaches on and off the pitch in the past.

Ballack is expected to return for October's qualifiers against Turkey and Kazakhstan when he could win his 100th cap for Germany having already won 98.

Having returned to Leverkusen and the Bundesliga this season after a four-year spell in the Premier League with Chelsea, Ballack's side were hammered 6-3 last Sunday by Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Ballack was substituted in the second-half and booed off the pitch by Leverkusen fans.

He was missing from training with Leverkusen on Thursday with a stomach infection.

Germany will face Azerbaijan in their second Euro 2012 qualifier in Cologne next Tuesday.