Snakeater
28 Nov 2005, 02:23 AM
Who will be Germany’s midfield defensive dynamo at next year’s World Cup?
I, like most of the guys who frequent this board, desperately want Germany to put in a good showing at next year’s World Cup. Despite many positive developments during Klinsmann’s reign as national coach, I have my reservations about this squad and what it’s capable of.
Germany have their strengths: Lahm is back, Schweinsteiger continues to improve, Friederich is steady as always, and with Deisler’s re-emergence, Germany look strong on the flanks. With Podoloski and Klose, Germany have two strikers upfront who complement each other in physique and style. In Kahn and Lehmann, Germany have two keepers with loads of experience. If either of them suffer an injury or show poor form before next year’s World Cup, there are younger keepers waiting in the wings: Hildebrand, Weidenfeller, and then there are still others like Rost and Enke. Of course, Ballack is a world class midfielder, not as good as Ronaldinho now, Nedved a few years ago, nor Zidane at the turn of the century, but he’s a clear cut above the class of current German midfielders. Also, something special happens to him when he puts on the National Team’s jersey, as he tends to raise his play a level or two and leaves everything out on the pitch.
However, there are glaring weaknesses for Germany, specifically, down the middle of the park, Ballack aside. The lack of a competent central defender is worrying. Even more worrying is the complete absence of a steady, hard-tackling, hard-nosed defensive midfield dynamo who can push forward with decisiveness. In years past, Matthaus had a lock on this position and was one of the best in the world; attack or defend, he could do it all. In the mid-nineties, Jeremies and Hamann would play for the National Team, the former a no-holds barred defensive specialist and the ladder a competent defensive midfielder who pushed forward with competence and elegance. And, of course, no one can forget the steady Sammer and his brilliant performance during Euro ’96. He scored a couple of goals at the tourney which were a testament to his intelligence and ability to read the play, as he pushed forward at just the right time to score. As recently as the 2002 World Cup, there was Carsten Ramelow who was used a defensive midfielder and later put back to anchor central defense, playing as a sweeper. Ramelow had a stellar World Cup. All of these players were instrumental to the success of the squads for which they played.
This brings me to my question: Who will be the defensive midfield dynamo Germany has seemingly forever had at next year’s World Cup?...Is it Kehl? He isn’t currently in Klinsmann’s selection. Besides, I don’t think he’s good enough technically to make a difference at the world level. Will it be Ballack? Probably not. We need him to push forward and be Germany’s attacking midfielder. Is it Borowski? Many on this site have suggested that he’s ideally suited to the right side of midfield and doesn’t work well in a defensive midfield position. Will it be Frings? From what I’ve seen of Frings, he’s a very competent player in the Bundesliga but too slow and technically inastute to influence a match at the World Cup. Is it Ernst? See Frings. Fabian’s a good Bundesliga player, but he looks out of his element when playing for the National team. He doesn’t possess the skill or vision nor the relentless instinct required of a midfield dynamo. And the truth is, there probably isn’t a player like Matthaus, Sammer, Jeremies, Hamann (of 96) in the Germany setup. Or, maybe there is, and I just don’t know him.
Guys, I put the question out to you and everyone who visits and contributes to this board: Who will be Germany’s defensive midfielder at next year’s World Cup?
….If I may offer my own opinion on one front, I would urge Klinsmann to welcome Ishmael into the squad. That would solve one glaring weakness which is central defense. Then, he could worry solely about who he’s going to field in defensive midfield. About Ishmael, He’s made earnest requests to be included in Klinsmann’s lineup, requests which appear sincere. The way I see it, if the man has lived in Germany long enough, played for German clubs, taken the place of German player, has learned to speak German, then he’s welcome to play for Germany. Besides, there have been many that have gone the other way: who were born in Germany, grew up in Germany, played their youth football in Germany, played their professional football in Germany, obviously spoke the language, yet decided not to play for Germany. If Klinsmann were to allow Ishmael to play for Germany, I would see that as a move to reflect a just equilibrium of the talent that German football environment has produced in the last twenty-five, thirty years.
Anyhow, I want to hear from you guys about who are defensive midfield dynamo will be and what Klinsmann should with lack of quality at that position and in central defense.
Christian,
I, like most of the guys who frequent this board, desperately want Germany to put in a good showing at next year’s World Cup. Despite many positive developments during Klinsmann’s reign as national coach, I have my reservations about this squad and what it’s capable of.
Germany have their strengths: Lahm is back, Schweinsteiger continues to improve, Friederich is steady as always, and with Deisler’s re-emergence, Germany look strong on the flanks. With Podoloski and Klose, Germany have two strikers upfront who complement each other in physique and style. In Kahn and Lehmann, Germany have two keepers with loads of experience. If either of them suffer an injury or show poor form before next year’s World Cup, there are younger keepers waiting in the wings: Hildebrand, Weidenfeller, and then there are still others like Rost and Enke. Of course, Ballack is a world class midfielder, not as good as Ronaldinho now, Nedved a few years ago, nor Zidane at the turn of the century, but he’s a clear cut above the class of current German midfielders. Also, something special happens to him when he puts on the National Team’s jersey, as he tends to raise his play a level or two and leaves everything out on the pitch.
However, there are glaring weaknesses for Germany, specifically, down the middle of the park, Ballack aside. The lack of a competent central defender is worrying. Even more worrying is the complete absence of a steady, hard-tackling, hard-nosed defensive midfield dynamo who can push forward with decisiveness. In years past, Matthaus had a lock on this position and was one of the best in the world; attack or defend, he could do it all. In the mid-nineties, Jeremies and Hamann would play for the National Team, the former a no-holds barred defensive specialist and the ladder a competent defensive midfielder who pushed forward with competence and elegance. And, of course, no one can forget the steady Sammer and his brilliant performance during Euro ’96. He scored a couple of goals at the tourney which were a testament to his intelligence and ability to read the play, as he pushed forward at just the right time to score. As recently as the 2002 World Cup, there was Carsten Ramelow who was used a defensive midfielder and later put back to anchor central defense, playing as a sweeper. Ramelow had a stellar World Cup. All of these players were instrumental to the success of the squads for which they played.
This brings me to my question: Who will be the defensive midfield dynamo Germany has seemingly forever had at next year’s World Cup?...Is it Kehl? He isn’t currently in Klinsmann’s selection. Besides, I don’t think he’s good enough technically to make a difference at the world level. Will it be Ballack? Probably not. We need him to push forward and be Germany’s attacking midfielder. Is it Borowski? Many on this site have suggested that he’s ideally suited to the right side of midfield and doesn’t work well in a defensive midfield position. Will it be Frings? From what I’ve seen of Frings, he’s a very competent player in the Bundesliga but too slow and technically inastute to influence a match at the World Cup. Is it Ernst? See Frings. Fabian’s a good Bundesliga player, but he looks out of his element when playing for the National team. He doesn’t possess the skill or vision nor the relentless instinct required of a midfield dynamo. And the truth is, there probably isn’t a player like Matthaus, Sammer, Jeremies, Hamann (of 96) in the Germany setup. Or, maybe there is, and I just don’t know him.
Guys, I put the question out to you and everyone who visits and contributes to this board: Who will be Germany’s defensive midfielder at next year’s World Cup?
….If I may offer my own opinion on one front, I would urge Klinsmann to welcome Ishmael into the squad. That would solve one glaring weakness which is central defense. Then, he could worry solely about who he’s going to field in defensive midfield. About Ishmael, He’s made earnest requests to be included in Klinsmann’s lineup, requests which appear sincere. The way I see it, if the man has lived in Germany long enough, played for German clubs, taken the place of German player, has learned to speak German, then he’s welcome to play for Germany. Besides, there have been many that have gone the other way: who were born in Germany, grew up in Germany, played their youth football in Germany, played their professional football in Germany, obviously spoke the language, yet decided not to play for Germany. If Klinsmann were to allow Ishmael to play for Germany, I would see that as a move to reflect a just equilibrium of the talent that German football environment has produced in the last twenty-five, thirty years.
Anyhow, I want to hear from you guys about who are defensive midfield dynamo will be and what Klinsmann should with lack of quality at that position and in central defense.
Christian,