Review: German National Team News & Discussion Thread - WC 2014 & Beyond

Quite optimistic regarding Durm, aren't we? Last I checked he lost his starting-spot to Schmelzer at Dortmund. He'd arguably not even be considered for the team had he not played at BVB.

 

Probably lost it because Schmelzer had more experience. I'd think Durm will slowly take over this season, but we'll see. Worst case we do another patchwork job at LB again. Won us the World Cup anyways.

 

Nuer
Lahm boetang Hummels durm
Khedira gundogan
Muller Ozil Rues
Volland/lassoga/Gomes

 

Doesnt matter if Jung, Durm or Lahm playing until 40 - we need fullbacks!!!

 

To be fair though Spain got away with largely the same roster for a pretty long time. While for the World Cup major changes will obviously (not all of which are foreseeable) be needed for the Euro Cup not much is needed except minor tweaking. After winning the World Cup very impressively why try to fix what's not broken. The only major change that is needed right now is replacing Klose. For that I feel Mario Gomez will be just fine at least for now. Lassoga is the future and will probably be the starting striker by 2018 but he is the future not the present.

 

We won with Howedes playing every minute of the Cup. He's hardly the best left back in the world.

 

Is Lassoga a fast striker or similar to Gomez?

 

It's simply not true that Durm plays better than Schmelzer. People seem to forget that Schmelzer was Dortmund's LB for two BL championships and a CL final. Durm had quite a few bad defensive mistakes last season. Dortmund even lost games because of him. People just prefer him because he looks more elegant than Schmelzer when he plays. Still, he only ever played when Schmelzer was injured.

Durm will never be the best player he can be at LB anyway. He has no left foot. If he ever manages to become a top class player it will be at RB. That's also where Klopp originally played him last pre-season. Then he was moved to the left side only because Großkreutz needed a new position at RB as he wasn't good enough for the wing anymore.

 

Schmelzer was never the best player on the team but he did his part. He was not a liability and defensively he is better than Durm. Last season he had massive injury problems and was rarely fully fit which impacted his play. Schmelzer's crosses could be better but at least he can cross from LB. Durm cannot because he has no left foot. That also impacts his defending. Right footed left backs are just a bad idea. Even Lahm who has a decent left foot is so much better on the right. Both defensively and offensively. In season 2011/2012 he still played LB and had a total of 4 assists in the BL and 1 in the CL. In season 2012/2013 he was finally moved to RB and his numbers went up to 11 assists in the BL and 5 in the CL.

I would be happy to replace Schmelzer with a better LB if one can be found. But that is not Durm. Durm shouldn't play LB at all.

 

I saw the exact opposite having watched every single BVB match last season..

 

Exactly, our left side has been suffering a lot because of his aimless performances, both defensively and offensively. Reus plays much better with Durm for support. Most goals BVB conceded last season were through Schmelzer's side, at least that's my memory. I see him as the team's weakest link.

 

I'm in the exact same boat.... it's a very odd and nostalgic feeling! I'm just slightly older than they are and always felt connected with those guys as they were the players I grew up with.

 

Lahm has retired from the National Team. Damn.

 

holy shit - dont say I didnt. I told you so!

thanx to Philipp! he's right up there with Walter, Seeler, Beckenbauer, Matthäus!

 

WTF!!!

Oh man, that sucks.

 

Who is next in line for captain? Schweini, Neuer, Müller? I'd go with Neuer, but would not mind if it's Schweini, just don't know how much longer he'll be around.

 

Schweini is kaput. If he wants to continue playing at this level at Bayern he must retire too. Maybe another two years and he retires two. The goalie is always too far away from the game(except it's the Algeria type of game). Müller is a fiery temper. Id say Hummels now that he has adjusted his playing style and his behavior within the team.

 

That would be my guess. Neuer would have the natural authority, but if Löw wants an outfield player, Schweinsteiger would be the obvious choice. Though I think Khedira would also make a good captain given his personality.