Soccer World Cup 2010 Apparel 2010 World Cup Soccer Shirts Jackets & Accessories » German Soccer News

Lahm: We can emulate Spain

Distrokeeper — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 05:00:07 +0000

Germany’s largely young 2010 FIFA World Cup™ squad can get over their 1-0 semi-final defeat by European champions Spain and emulate their success in the future, captain Philipp Lahm said on Thursday.

The 26-year-old, who has been an inspirational captain in the absence of the injured Michael Ballack, added that one day he expected he would be holding a trophy aloft and assuaging the pain of being part of teams that had lost two successive World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2008 final – 1-0 to Spain.

“I am a little surprised by the margins of victory against England (4-1) and Argentina (4-0),” said the 71-times capped Bayern Munich fullback. “But I have been training with these guys for a long time, and I knew what they were capable of. We were able to believe in our future. Spain proved that there is always room for improvement. Three to four weeks ago, they had the same players, and then they gained in confidence. We too can do similar things.”

Lahm, who repeated that he would not voluntarily hand back the captaincy to 33-year-old Ballack and would do so only if the coach instructed him to, admitted the defeat had been tough – he was reduced to floods of tears at the final whistle – but the Germans had still achieved more than other European heavyweights.

“I am 26 and therefore I have some years of football at this level in front of me,” said Lahm. “There will be other semi-finals. But it is true, it will never be easy to think back on [the defeat]. But thereagain look, Italy and France were knocked out really quickly. One day, I am convinced that we will be up there with the best. And then also to lose a semi-final is not a mark of dishonour, that doesn’t happen every day either.”

He also revealed that the Germans had declined an offer of a ‘victory’ parade back in Berlin when they return unlike those that happened after the 2006 semi-final loss at home and the Euro 2008 final defeat. Lahm, who says he has changed his mind and would play in the third place match with Uruguay in Port Elizabeth on Saturday if he has recovered from a knock, said he saw Wednesday’s victors Spain adding the world title to their European crown. “I see Spain winning it,” he said. “But if not I will be happy to see my clubmates [Mark van Bommel and Arjen Robben] return to Bayern with the trophy. The trophy would give us a ‘boost’ at Bayern.”

Pique: Germany aren’t favourites

Distrokeeper — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:00:48 +0000

Gerard Pique says Spain’s semi-final opponents Germany are a “very difficult team” but has cautioned against installing Joachim Low’s men as favourites for Wednesday’s game in Durban.

Germany have been the most impressive team in the knockout stages having defeated England 4-1 and then Argentina 4-0 in the quarter-finals; Low and his young group of players have been painted as the most exciting side in the competition.

Spain were granted that title at Euro 2008, when defeating Germany in the final, but their progression in South Africa has been less stellar having beaten Portugal and Paraguay thanks to solitary goals from striker David Villa.

While Pique has taken note of Germany’s stylish attacking play, he says Spain remain confident in their own ability and will not be overawed by the task awaiting them.

“Germany are a very difficult team, really strong, with a lot of quality, a lot of good players, and it will be difficult to stop them,” Pique said. “I don’t know why they are so impressive. Maybe it is because they have a lot of new young players.

“The likes of Mesut Ozil, Thomas Muller and Sami Khedira are new in the team and they are playing great. Some were playing for their Under-21s last summer and they have made the step up.

“I think when you are at the semi-final stage, there are no favourites. It is true because they beat England 4-1 and Argentina 4-0 that they will be in a really good mood. But we will see what happens when we meet them.

“We never have any doubts about ourselves. We always play the same way, the results are good and we have to be confident with our play.”

Spain will have midfielder Cesc Fabregas fit for the semi-final as the Arsenal midfielder, who is yet to start a game for Vicente del Bosque’s side at the tournament, has suffered no ill-effects from landing heavily on his shoulder against Paraguay.

Defender Carles Puyol will start alongside Pique in defence despite suffering from blurred vision after being struck in the face by the ball during the quarter-final victory.

Ozil out to upstage Messi

Distrokeeper — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 05:00:48 +0000

Mesut Ozil is determined to upstage Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi, in whose honour he has been nicknamed, by leading Germany into the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ semi-finals.

The 21-year-old is a candidate to win the tournament’s Hyundai Best Young Player Award and aims to boss the midfield in Saturday’s quarter-final clash when he squares up to the Barcelona star.

Ozil has been dubbed “Messi” by his German teammates, because of the way the Germany-born midfielder of Turkish parentage has terrorised defences since his debut in February 2009.

“Yes, many in the team call me Messi,” Ozil admitted, ahead of the match at Green Point Stadium. “That’s my nickname. I want to beat Messi and we want to beat Argentina as a team. I am convinced that we will beat them. So you can bet on us.”

But Ozil admits Germany’s young guns, who have an average age of just under 25, will have their work cut out against one of the favourites to win the FIFA World Cup in what is likely to be an explosive confrontation.

“They will be a tough side to beat and we must not be provoked,” said Ozil. “I’m not afraid, I’m looking forward to the game. Argentina has a lot of world-class players in the team, against whom I want to measure myself.”"

Ozil opted to play for Germany having turned down the chance to turn out for Turkey, where his parents were born, and says he has no regrets. Of the 23-strong Germany squad, 11 were either born outside of the country or have foreign roots, but Ozil inists all are proud to pull on the white shirt.

“Whether rooted in Brazil, Ghana or Poland, we all feel German,” he said. “We play with passion and pride for Germany. It is an honour for all of us to wear the national jersey.”

Mueller: Our Attitude Saw Us Through

Distrokeeper — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 05:00:41 +0000

Germany inflicted a humiliating defeat on England on Sunday afternoon when they beat them 4-1 at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein. The victory ensured that the 2006 Would Cup semifinalists reach the quarterfinals in South Africa. It also forced the Three Lions to book a early flight home.

Thomas Mueller was a star in the win against England, scoring two quick goals in the second half. The Bayern Munich striker also set up Lukas Podolski for Germany’s second goal.

Speaking after the match, Mueller told Sky Germany, “Yes, we were all well prepared for the match. I think we had a good attitude against England. That it results in a 4-1 (win) is probably a bit too much.”

“Now it’s even with Wembley. We said to each other: we have been lucky, so let’s play it down till the end now.”

Germany will now take on the winners between Argentina and Mexico in the quarterfinals. The 20-year-old has been quoted by AFP as saying about their potential meeting with the Argentinians, ” Now anything is possible, even if there is a tough nut waiting for us (in Argentina). But that doesn’t matter, we just have to clear the way.”

James: Germany just another game

Distrokeeper — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:00:15 +0000

England goalkeeper David James insists that Sunday’s eagerly anticipated knock-out clash with old rivals Germany in Bloemfontein is “just another football match”.

England have a long history of high-profile clashes with the Germans at major tournaments, often coming off second best, and there will be a place in the World Cup quarter-finals at stake when the two teams meet at the Free State Stadium.

But despite the headline-grabbing nature of the match, James is paying little attention to all the hype.

“It’s another football match,” James said. “Obviously there’ll be a lot of external references and whatever else, historical references. But for us it’s a game against a decent outfit – one we have to win to progress.”

Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Slovenia secured England’s place in the knockout phase, but Landon Donovan’s stoppage-time winner for USA against Algeria meant Capello’s side finished second in Group C and face Group D winners Germany rather than runners-up Ghana.

The outcome left England in a tough quarter of the draw, with Argentina potential semi-final opponents, but James is not concerned about what might have been.

“We can’t do anything about what happened,” he said. “We look back at the America game and the performance of Tim Howard which prevented a win.

“Algeria are very difficult to score against, and then we did what we needed to against Slovenia on Wednesday.”

James is prepared for the possibility of facing penalties against Germany – just as England had to in the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup and Euro ‘96 – but is hoping it does not go that far.

“The intention for us is to win the game in 90 minutes,” he said. “If it requires extra time and then if it goes to penalties, there’s an opportunity for Germany to miss so we’re ready.

“Germany are a decent outfit but we’ve got the confidence of having gone to Berlin a couple of years ago and beaten them 2-1.”

James added: “I’m delighted for England as a nation that we’ve got a chance to play Germany. It gives everyone at home the opportunity to enjoy a great football match.”

Striking options for Low

Distrokeeper — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 05:00:02 +0000

Germany coach Joachim Low has admitted he has yet to make up his mind who will lead his attack against Australia next Sunday.

Low has favoured Miroslav Klose in his two pre-South Africa warm-up games though there has been no indication that the Bayern Munich striker, who netted just three goals for his club all season, is nearing a satisfactory level of form.

And Low’s support of the man who led Germany’s FIFA World Cup™ challenge in both 2002 and 2006 appears to be waning.

“Miro has a lot of catching up to do,” he told the Bild newspaper after the national team arrived in Johannesburg this morning. “He has trained hard, and yet we took a risk on him against Bosnia.

“Miro is a competition player, but he is lacking the match practice. Miro is going to have to fight [for his place].”

Should Low decide to shuffle his pack for their FIFA World Cup opener, he has picked out the two candidates he is considering. Cacau took over from Klose in the recent matches against Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and left a good impression each time.

But Klose’s team mate Mario Gomez is also fighting for a starting berth and Low admitted he has been particularly impressed with the 24-year-old.

“He is in very, very good form,” he said. “He is playing better than I have ever seen him play for Bayern Munich.”

However, a gamble on Gomez backfired at Euro 2008, when he failed to find the back of the net once, which is why Cacau currently has the edge. “Cacau has impressed when he has played,” added Low.

That leaves Stefan Kiessling as the fourth candidate in the attack, and the likely odd man out, at least on Sunday, despite being the top German goalscorer in the Bundesliga last season.

Klose told Germany’s Kicker magazine that he still expects to line up against the Socceroos. “I am convinced that I will win the battle for my place like in the past,” said the 31-year-old, who is not perturbed about his form.

“The decisive moment is the first World Cup game against Australia and I am happy to be judged on that. Since arriving in the training camp, I have done two training sessions a day and worked really hard. I did not really take these games as a yardstick. I am still right in the middle of preparation.”