Who will be Germany's defensive midfield dynamo at next year's World Cup?

[MicFW]

That's a difficult question!
Borowski is really strong this season, he definitely has to play a major role next year for Germany too. But he's probably a lot better in a more offensive role than as defensive midfielder.
Kehl has to get a fair chance after his convincing performances for Dortmund. Normally he should be able to fill the gap. And his technique is definitely a lot better than that of Ramelow or Jeremies who played that position before.
Second choice: Ernst or Frings. (neither of them would make it into my starting eleven)

[Germanshepherd]

Why waste a spot on a guy like Hitzlesperger when we need Kehl so much more.

I dont know, but I like Hitzlsperger. He has the right attitude. He played bad positions in the national team but never complained about it. His shooting skills are fabulous.

But its true, there probably isnt a spot for him. :(
My WC Squad:

------------------------Kahn-------------------
(Lehmann, Weidenfeller)

Friedrich-------Mertesacker-Metzelder-----Lahm
(Owomoyela) (Huth, Wörns) (Jansen)

------------------------Kehl--------------------
(Frings,Ernst)

Deisler---------------Ballack------------Borowski
(Schneider) (Schweinsteiger)

-------------------Klose--Podolski------------------
(Lauth,Meier)

[Mehr]

I dont know, but I like Hitzlsperger. He has the right attitude. He played bad positions in the national team but never complained about it. His shooting skills are fabulous.

But its true, there probably isnt a spot for him. :(
My WC Squad:

------------------------Kahn-------------------
(Lehmann, Weidenfeller)

Friedrich-------Mertesacker-Metzelder-----Lahm
(Owomoyela) (Huth, Wörns) (Jansen)

------------------------Kehl--------------------
(Frings,Ernst)

Deisler---------------Ballack------------Borowski
(Schneider) (Schweinsteiger)

-------------------Klose--Podolski------------------
(Lauth,Meier)




Wow, thats is an interesting squad.

Borowski over the pig? Lauth and Meier?

I dont think Lauth or Meier have proven enough this year...why not Kiessling?

I would also prefer Volz over Owoyomela.

[ForeverRed]

Also, Sienkewizc over Huth seeing as how Huth is seeing NO action whatsoever with Chelsea.

[scorpio81]

Also, Sienkewizc over Huth seeing as how Huth is seeing NO action whatsoever with Chelsea.


was just watching the highlights on fsc and there was a break during the hamburg match where trochowski beat the offside trap and even though hes quite fast himself, sinkiewicz caught up with him from yards behind and knicked the ball of him superbly just as he shaped to shoot... superb defending, and a player of his value and speed would be a great addition to the squad over a lumbering lout like huth...

[Germanshepherd]

Wow, thats is an interesting squad.

Borowski over the pig? Lauth and Meier?

I dont think Lauth or Meier have proven enough this year...why not Kiessling?

I would also prefer Volz over Owoyomela.

Borowski ist sure better than Schweinsteiger. So he takes his place. Schweinsteiger is a good substitute in the second half.

Meier plays a good season but also Kießling. Lauth is simply better than Neuville or Kuranyi.

[Germanshepherd]

was just watching the highlights on fsc and there was a break during the hamburg match where trochowski beat the offside trap and even though hes quite fast himself, sinkiewicz caught up with him from yards behind and knicked the ball of him superbly just as he shaped to shoot... superb defending, and a player of his value and speed would be a great addition to the squad over a lumbering lout like huth...

Huth is fast, too. Maybe we can leave Woerns out and take Sinkiewicz in.

[dovifat]

With Mathias Lehmann (1860) and Sascha Riether (Freiburg) Germany has at least two players for that job coming up, too bad they'r stuck at some second league sites and don't have the experience yet. We'll see them at the U21 EC in spring though.

[Wotan]

Great Post---I think Kehl is excellent!! Also , Metzelder & Woerns! And, I agree 100% about what you said about Ishmael----he is NOT GERMAN!!! I said this on the other board & people misinterpret me as a "racist"---I am NOT!! These are "National" teams---not "club" teams. Wotan

[Snakeater]

With Mathias Lehmann (1860) and Sascha Riether (Freiburg) Germany has at least two players for that job coming up, too bad they'r stuck at some second league sites and don't have the experience yet. We'll see them at the U21 EC in spring though.


I don't know too much about either of these players except that they both figure in the Germany U-21 team.

The other day I picked up a soccer magazine here in Japan, and it had Lehmann listed as one of the top prospects from the U-21 team. I would appreciate it if someone could give discuss the player's strengths and weaknesses, and try and give an example of an established player present or past who Lehmann reminds you of, if you've seen him play. Thanks.

The Snake.

[Snakeater]

If the guy was raised in Germany from a young age, I might be open to it but otherwise, hell no....this is an international team not a club.

Anyways, I dont see how Klinsmann can ignore Kehl. The guy is exactly what we need.

Why waste a spot on a guy like Hitzlesperger when we need Kehl so much more.

You're not alone in thinking that Kehl has the skills to play for the German National Team, but I'm not sure that I agree. On the odd occasion that I've seen him play, I didn't come away impressed. Let me ask a question to those who think Kehl should be our defensive midfielder: Is Kehl good enough to play defensive midfield for a mid-table team in Seria A or La Primavera? Why or why not?

[ForeverRed]

You're not alone in thinking that Kehl has the skills to play for the German National Team, but I'm not sure that I agree. On the odd occasion that I've seen him play, I didn't come away impressed. Let me ask a question to those who think Kehl should be our defensive midfielder: Is Kehl good enough to play defensive midfield for a mid-table team in Seria A or La Primavera? Why or why not?

Kehl was part of the Germany 2002 squad that got to the final so I don't think there are any doubts whether he can play at the level for the NT. He just hasn't been in the picture that long. Between Voeller and Klinsmans switching period, personal injuries and constant squad rotation and experimentation, he just hasn't been able to get consistent call ups.

There is a reason Kehl is captaining BVB and Dortmund have somewhat of a resurgence.

[Wotan]

In all the posts---saw very little on Omoyela (spelling?)----anyone----he semms to have been on the NT in the last few friendlies---maybe because others have been injured. Interesting to hear some feedback here----I know he won't start---you think he'll make the team???

[Bayerntone]

He will be at 32 in wm 2006, but I think he can still play if he is 100%recovered from surgery.

Jens Jeremies. He doesn't have too much playtime due to the superb depth of Bayern's midfield. Everytime he's off the bench, he grasped the chance and played well.

I have more faith in him over Frings. Frings likes to dribble the ball unaware of his rusty skills and lost possession on several occasions and one of which was at the confed cup against Mexico when his error made Germany pay for a goal.

I dun think Ernst is qualified at the international level. And I dun know how Kehl is playing. Dietmar is just a shade of his best. He had a poor match against Holland.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

In all the posts---saw very little on Omoyela (spelling?)----anyone----he semms to have been on the NT in the last few friendlies---maybe because others have been injured. Interesting to hear some feedback here----I know he won't start---you think he'll make the team???

In my profile, I give him about a 40% chance. I don't think so. I hope not. He's the worst player on the NT right now IMHO. To think he is better than Friedrich in RB is laughable. To think he's better than Deisler or Schweinsteiger or Frings at RM is also laughable. He doesn't play any other position.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

You're not alone in thinking that Kehl has the skills to play for the German National Team, but I'm not sure that I agree. On the odd occasion that I've seen him play, I didn't come away impressed. Let me ask a question to those who think Kehl should be our defensive midfielder: Is Kehl good enough to play defensive midfield for a mid-table team in Seria A or La Primavera? Why or why not?

What I'm gonna say is Klinsi has to give him a chance. I think he will, in the next round of friendlies. I don't think it matters if he can play Serie A or Primera Liga, all that matters is he plays in a very high level and that he gets his chances with Germany.

[shutoutj]

In my profile, I give him about a 40% chance. I don't think so. I hope not. He's the worst player on the NT right now IMHO. To think he is better than Friedrich in RB is laughable. To think he's better than Deisler or Schweinsteiger or Frings at RM is also laughable. He doesn't play any other position.
You haven't seen him play much at all this season have you?
Watch him play for Bremen.

Calling him the worst player is just dumb. That award goes to Wörns.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

You haven't seen him play much at all this season have you?
Watch him play for Bremen.

Calling him the worst player is just dumb. That award goes to Wörns.

...Woerns and him a tie then. :D

I just don't think he has that much quality thats all. He's fast, but thats all I see. He has done pretty well in the league and he had his moments in the Champions League, but didn't really do too well. But he just hasn't really done with Germany to inspire much confidence in him.

Hopefully he'll get better. I just don't think he's talented enough to do so.