German WC Squad

[extranjero]

So, after the impressions of the Confed Cup who are currently the most likely players to be picked by Klinsmann for the WC squad (23 players)?

Goal: Kahn, Lehmann + 1 of Hildebrand, Weidenfeller, Wiese, Rost, Enke, Jentzsch

CB: Wörns + 3 of Mertesacker, Huth, Metzelder, Friedrich
RB: 2 of Friedrich, Hinkel, Owomoyela, Görlitz, Schneider
LB: Lahm + 1 of Pander, Jansen, Schulz, Hitzlesperger, Schneider

RM: 2 of Schneider, Deisler, Borowski, Freier
LM: Schweinsteiger + 1 of Ernst, Hitzlesperger, Jansen
DM: Frings + 1 of Hamann, Kehl, Ernst
OM: Ballack

FW: Podolski, Klose, Kuranyi, Asamoah + 1 of Hanke, Lauth, Neuville, Brdaric

IIRC Klinsmann has announced that he plans to double every position so I've generally tried to follow this requirement. I think he will take five and not four forwards so I've not doubled Ballack's position in offensive midfield.

Schneider and Ernst are among the "secure" players, the question is for which position they will primarily be nominated. If Schneider is nominated in RM it may mean that Borowski will miss out on the squad. If Ernst is nominated in DM both Hamann and Kehl may miss out in favor of Hitlesperger in LM which would be a bad decision IMO.

Comments?

[The Old Lady Hertha]

If I'm correct, (and I'm not sure if I am) but you are allowed to bring 23 to the World Cup. WC 2002 it was 23 anyways.

So here would be my 23:

GK: Kahn, Lehmann, Hildebrand
RWB: Friedrich, Hinkel
CB: Woerns, Huth, Mertesacker, Metzi (if healthy, if not, shucks we're screwed, Nowotny, but he's in the same boat as Metzi...maybe Baumann :mad: )
LWB: Lahm, Hitzlsperger
DM: Ernst, Frings, Hamann
RM: Schneider, Deisler
LM: Schweinsteiger
OM: Ballack
ST: Klose, Kuranyi, Podolski, Asamoah, Lauth/Hanke

Hitzlsperger can play LM too, Deisler can play OM, Hinkel and Asamoah can play RM.
But its way too soon to speculate. This is based on info from this season. Who knows who may bomb this year or get injured, and Lahm and Metzi and Klose HAVE to recover from their injuries, they are all key.

[mcweiss]

My Picks would be as follows:


Goal: Kahn, Lehmann, Weidenfeller / Enke

CB: Wörns, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Friedrich
RB: Hinkel, Görlitz
LB: Lahm, Pander

RM: Deisler, Freier
LM: Schweinsteiger, Schneider
DM: Hamann, Ernst
OM: Ballack

FW: Podolski, Klose, Asamoah, Hanke, Lauth

This is obviously pending injury recovery of several players. Starters in bold...Note: Deisler, Freier and Podolski can understudy for Ballack in case of injury / suspension.

[SirManchester]

I don't know if Hanke is a sure bet yet...

A lot will hinge on this season, I'm counting on Huth and Borrowski as well as Hanke to have a great season so they can stay in the squad.

[benztown]

This is what I think. Two players on each position (except goal):

Goal:
Kahn
Hildebrandt
Lehmann

RB:
Friedrich
Hinkel

CB:
Metzelder
Mertesacker
Huth
Wörns/Babbel

LB:
Lahm
Pander

Defensive Midfield:
Frings
Ernst

Right Midfield:
Deisler
Schneider

Left Midfield:
Schweinsteiger
Hitzlsperger

Central Midfield:
Ballack
Scholl (now this is me wishing, but he would make a perfect sub)

Strikers:
Podolski
Kuranyi
Klose
Lauth/Asamoah/Hanke

[extranjero]

I don't know if Hanke is a sure bet yet...

I believe Klose, Kuranyi, Podolski and Asamoah are sure bets barring injury.

Hanke was probably ahead of Brdaric, Lauth and Neuville before he got red carded against Mexico. If he gets banned for more than one game he may really be in trouble, though, because he will be of limited use to Klinsmann in the WC. Moreover, Hanke may actually struggle in Wolfsburg because he may have to compete with Klimowicz for the central striker spot.

I'm still sceptical about Hanke anyway. He is strong in the air and has good instincts in front of goal, but he is also slow and doesn't combine well. His first touch isn't all that, either.

[Neuwiednetronic Kev]

I'm a big fan of Freier, well not that big but I think he's good.
3-5-2 is unlikely but perhaps it might look like this:

Goal: Kahn, Lehmann, Hilderbrand

SW/DM: Kehl

CB: Mertesacker, Metzelder, Friedrich, Huth
RwB: Hinkel, Görlitz
LwB: Lahm, Schulz

RM: Deisler, Freier
LM: Schweinsteiger, Hitzlsperger
DM: Frings, Ernst
AM: Ballack

FW: Podolski, Klose, Kuranyi, Asamoah


-------------------------------Kahn
-------------------------------Kehl
----------------Metzelder------Mertesacker------Friedrich
---Hinkel-------------------------------------------------Lahm
--------------------------Frings-------Ernst
-----------------------------Ballack
-----------------------Podolski----Kuranyi

[The Old Lady Hertha]

I'm a big fan of Freier, well not that big but I think he's good.
3-5-2 is unlikely but perhaps it might look like this:

Goal: Kahn, Lehmann, Hilderbrand

SW/DM: Kehl

CB: Mertesacker, Metzelder, Friedrich, Huth
RwB: Hinkel, Görlitz
LwB: Lahm, Schulz

RM: Deisler, Freier
LM: Schweinsteiger, Hitzlsperger
DM: Frings, Ernst
AM: Ballack

FW: Podolski, Klose, Kuranyi, Asamoah


-------------------------------Kahn
-------------------------------Kehl
----------------Metzelder------Mertesacker------Friedrich
---Hinkel-------------------------------------------------Lahm
--------------------------Frings-------Ernst
-----------------------------Ballack
-----------------------Podolski----Kuranyi


I think that Kehl deserves a chance, but definitely not as a Sweeper...
But I think he should replace Frings or Ernst, I think he is a better defender than either of them.
Where would Schweinsteiger be in this lineup? I think he should be put to the left wing of Ballack, and have Lahm make overlapping runs to the side. Germany needs to have Schweinsteiger's attacking instincts and flair, otherwise, Germany is about as bland as a potato.
Friedrich has shown he is the best RWB...unfortunately for Hinkel, that means a place on the bench, unless Germany decide to play diamond midfield, and he could replace Frings or Ernst as a RM like this:
----------Frings/Ernst----------
Hinkel------------------Schweinsteiger
------------Ballack-------------
Oh yea, and to defuse any talk of me being hyprocritical, I want to replace Hamann in my German WC lineup with Kehl. :)

[Neuwiednetronic Kev]

Yer the reason I put that 3-5-2 is coz I think our defence isn't very good, and perhaps playing 2 DMs would fix things up???

But yer without Schweini things get a bit stale.

Your diamond formation looks neat too, that'll be good.

[HerrRupert]

kahn has a point:

".. aber Kahn warnt: "So kommen wir nicht ins Finale"
Heftig kritisiert der Nationaltorhüter die offensive Spielweise der deutschen Mannschaft

von Ralf Köttker und Lars Gartenschläger

Leipzig - Unterschiedlicher hätte das Spiel kaum bewertet werden können. Nach dem 4:3 gegen Mexiko erschien auf dem Flachbildschirm in den Katakomben des Leipziger Zentralstadions ein gutgelaunter Jürgen Klinsmann, der ein paar Etagen höher in der Pressekonferenz auf die drei Gegentore und die Laune seines Torhüters angesprochen wurde. "Ich habe nach dem Schlußpfiff mit dem Oliver Kahn gescherzt, und er ist genauso begeistert wie wir von der Entwicklung der Mannschaft", sagte der Bundestrainer.


Daß der Torwart diese Einschätzung ganz und gar nicht teilte, war seinem Gesicht deutlich anzusehen. Einige Meter neben dem Fernsehschirm mit den Livebildern des lächelnden Bundestrainers Klinsmann stand Kahn, der in etwa so zufrieden aussah wie nach dem 0:2 gegen Brasilien im Finale der Weltmeisterschaft 2002, in dem ihm ein kapitaler Fehler unterlaufen war. "Ich kann mich hier nicht hinstellen und sagen, daß ich begeistert bin. Wenn ich sehe, was wir für Fehler machen, muß ich teilweise schon lachen. Das ist haarsträubend", sagte der Profi vom FC Bayern München.


Während Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder, der Präsident des Deutschen Fußball-Bundes, vor den Kameras von der "beeindruckenden Mannschaftsleistung" schwärmte und Assistenztrainer Joachim Löw immer noch vom hohen Unterhaltungswert der Partie ("Das Spiel hatte alles") fasziniert war, hatte Kahn schlechte Laune - und das dringende Bedürfnis, sein Fazit zu ziehen.


Die Begeisterung für den Offensivfußball seiner Kollegen verstand der 36jährige nicht. "Es geht bei uns immer munter nach vorn, wir spielen ständig hohes Tempo. Aber die Balance zwischen Offensive und Defensive stimmt nicht. Wie spielen fast schon Kamikaze", sagte Kahn und schüttelte den Kopf: "Dieser Konföderationen-Pokal stand wohl unter dem Motto der totalen Offensive."


Zweimal hatte die derzeitige Nummer eins während des Turniers im Tor gestanden und sowohl beim 4:3 gegen Australien als auch gegen Mexiko jeweils drei Treffer kassiert. Abgesehen von seinem Frust und dem aufgestauten Ärger über die Rotation der deutschen Torhüter sorgen Kahn die permanenten Probleme der Abwehr. "Jetzt wird alles durch die große Euphorie überdeckt. Aber ich weiß, wie man bis zum letzten Punkt erfolgreich ist. So nicht!"


Kahn kritisiert vor allem die vielen Ballverluste und die Abstimmungsprobleme in der Defensivarbeit, die in den fünf Turnierspielen zu elf Gegentoren führten. Der erfahrenste deutsche Nationalspieler weiß, daß die Gegner im kommenden Jahr taktisch viel disziplinierter spielen werden und es weniger Gelegenheiten geben wird, Rückstände auszugleichen. "Wir werden nicht immer 4:3 gewinnen, weil irgendwann nicht mehr Konföderationen-Pokal ist, sondern WM", warnt Kahn. "Und so wird uns der Weg nicht ins Finale führen."


Artikel erschienen am Fre, 1. Juli 2005

[PileD]

Yes, all

[PileD]

Hasse dieses scheiß gelaber, wenn hätte, könnte.
Wenn Hotte Köhler heute Kanzler wär dann wär er Kabzler.
Isser aber nich, und Deutschland geht unter.

Aber die die 11 Recken leisteten gute Dienste, sehr gut, um von dem Thema abzulenken.

Das soll die Leistung niemals schmälern, die haben echt Weltklasse gespielt.
Leider haben sie nicht die Schiris auf Ihrer Seite gehabt. Kommt noch.
Und die Abwehr war nicht 1a, kommt noch.

Aber sonst seh ich mit Freude voraus.

[SirManchester]

There is more depth to our options than I thought. I hope Klinsman picks those few right people though out of the many that he has to select out of and doesn't waste his picks.

[HerrRupert]

Hasse dieses scheiß gelaber, wenn hätte, könnte.
Wenn Hotte Köhler heute Kanzler wär dann wär er Kabzler.
Isser aber nich, und Deutschland geht unter.

Aber die die 11 Recken leisteten gute Dienste, sehr gut, um von dem Thema abzulenken.

Das soll die Leistung niemals schmälern, die haben echt Weltklasse gespielt.
Leider haben sie nicht die Schiris auf Ihrer Seite gehabt. Kommt noch.
Und die Abwehr war nicht 1a, kommt noch.

Aber sonst seh ich mit Freude voraus.


lol nicht mal 1b

[HeyaBVB]

Hasse dieses scheiß gelaber, wenn hätte, könnte.
Wenn Hotte Köhler heute Kanzler wär dann wär er Kabzler.
Isser aber nich, und Deutschland geht unter.

Aber die die 11 Recken leisteten gute Dienste, sehr gut, um von dem Thema abzulenken.

Das soll die Leistung niemals schmälern, die haben echt Weltklasse gespielt.
Leider haben sie nicht die Schiris auf Ihrer Seite gehabt. Kommt noch.
Und die Abwehr war nicht 1a, kommt noch.

Aber sonst seh ich mit Freude voraus.

Pile is right, although i hate to admit it

Talking is cheap as we germans say
We hav almost a full year to WC2006

We don't know who is fit till then, we don't know who Klinsi will call

And Kahn is nothing like a whining bitch who should step back.
The media protects his lousy bavarian "stümper"-butt but he clearly made a lots of errors against Australia.

He just blames Huth und Mertesacker instead like a men saying that he made mistakes as well

Like Poldi said: They win and loose as a TEAM ... Kahn is just an arrogant soab.... not a teamplayer.

This confed club surely showed one thing:
Together they stand, divided they fall
and with Khan they clearly fall

[HerrRupert]

Pile is right, although i hate to admit it

Talking is cheap as we germans say
We hav almost a full year to WC2006

We don't know who is fit till then, we don't know who Klinsi will call

And Kahn is nothing like a whining bitch who should step back.
The media protects his lousy bavarian "stümper"-butt but he clearly made a lots of errors against Australia.

He just blames Huth und Mertesacker instead like a men saying that he made mistakes as well

Like Poldi said: They win and loose as a TEAM ... Kahn is just an arrogant soab.... not a teamplayer.

This confed club surely showed one thing:
Together they stand, divided they fall
and with Khan they clearly fall

defense wins tournaments though lets just hope metzelder gets fit

http://www.kicker.de/content/news/artikel.asp?folder=3100&object=317175&liga=1&saison=2005/06&spieltag=1&gruppe=16904

[HeyaBVB]

defense wins tournaments though lets just hope metzelder gets fit

http://www.kicker.de/content/news/artikel.asp?folder=3100&object=317175&liga=1&saison=2005/06&spieltag=1&gruppe=16904
That phrase doesn't count anymore, otherwise Mexico would have won Confed Cup
(Best defense .. only germany made 4 goals against em)

A good mix of offense and defense wins tournaments

But protecting our goalies (especially the gorillalike one) to justify our third place is lame. Kahn made mistakes at every goal vs. Australia. He just blames the defense (of which the goalie is part)

A goalkeeper is the last line of defense , he is not ABOVE defense, as Kahn thinks he is

Instead of giving great speeches he should step down ... he is a shadow of his former self, and only his arrogancy keeps him from realizing it.

[scorpio81]

is there no chance for kringe to make it come world cup time? he had a pretty good season @ LW, didnt he?


GK: timo, kahn, roman

RB: hinkel, owomoyela

LB: lahm, pander

CB: mertesecker, metzelder, huth, friedrich

DM: hamann, ernst

RM: deisler, schneider

LM: schweini, kringe

CM: ballack, frings

FW: poldi, lauth, hanke, kuranyi



damn, its hard to leave out the players i did... but this competition is good!!!

[extranjero]

Two interesting articles dealing with the WC sqad:

Kicker Article (http://kicker.de/content/news/artikel.asp?folder=7100&object=317144&liga=1&saison=2005/06&spieltag=1&spielpaarung=317143&gruppe=10578)

The Kicker figures that the starting 11 looks so at the moment:

Kahn - Friedrich, Wörns, Mertesacker, Lahm - Schneider, Frings, Ballack, Schweinsteiger - Kuranyi, Podolski

Sport1 Article (http://www.sport1.de/coremedia/generator/www.sport1.de/Sportarten/Fussball/Confed_20Cup_202005/Berichte/Hintergrund/fus_20confed_20cup_20dfb_20teamcheck_20mel.html)

Löw says Lahm is the ideal solution for the left back spot, but perhaps more interestingly he seems to have reservations about Hitzlesperger at left back and mentions Pander and Jansen as alternatives. Löw also rates Schneider in midfield highly. Klinsmann is quoted as saying that four -- of five or even six! -- forward spots are as good as secure with Klose, Podolski, Asamoah and Kuranyi.

[Germanshepherd]

Klinsi will do the right thing, but I would choose Lehmann in goal right now.

Goal: Lehmann, Kahn, Weidenfeller

LB: Lahm, Janssen
CB: Woerns, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Huth
RB: Friedrich, Hinkel
DM: Hamann, Frings
LM: Schweinsteiger, Ernst
RM: Deisler, Schneider
CM: Ballack
FW: Podolski, Klose, Asamoah, Hanke, Kuranyi

Van Marwijk (Dortmund) said he will let Woerns and Metzelder play together in the central defense this season. It will be very good to have both in the NT at this position too.
Hamann wil be very interesting when he comes back. I hve no doubt he will deliver. The CL win and his great contribution to it, will give him a huge boost in confidence.
Schweini, Deisler and Ballack will play together at Bayern, this will make the offense even better.
Podolski and Klose should fit together perfectly. Klose with his headers and his work rate and Podolski with his passes and his shots.