Germany Profile ?

GERMANY:

Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann

Preferred Tactics: 4-4-2, diamond midfield
Probable Lineup: Kahn-Friedrich, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Lahm-Frings-Schweinsteiger, Deisler-Ballack-Klose, Podolski
Goalkeepers:

Oliver Kahn-Bayern Munchen, 36
His best days are behind him, but still a very capable goalkeeper. Has not been the same though since his WC2002 final blunder
Chances of making final roster: 100%
CHances of Starting: 60%

Jens Lehmann-Arsenal (ENG), 36
Keeper who has never been a regular starter for German NT, and at age 36, he might get his chance. Decent goalkeeper, prone to mistakes, though.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of Starting 35%

Timo Hildebrand- VfB Stuttgart, 26
Young keeper who will more or less be the #1 after Ollie und Lehmann retires. Lots of people are high on him (one of them me) and he'll probably be #3 for Germany.
Chances of making final roster: 85%
Chances of Starting 5%

Roman Weidenfeller- Borussia Dortmund, 25
Another good young keeper who has an outside chance. Not considered by Klinsmann much, even though he may be best Bundesliga keeper.
Chances of making final roster: 15%
Chances of starting: 0%

Some goalkeepers who could force their way on:
Simon Jentszch- VfL Wolfsburg- 29
Christian Fiedler- Hertha BSC- 31
Dimo Wache- FSV Mainz, 32
Robert Enke- Hannover 96, 28

Defenders:
Arne Friedrich- Hertha BSC, 26
Germany's starting Right Wing back and captain of Hertha Berlin. Good defensive skills, has great anticipation, good heading and hard tackler. Probably best German defender right now, and he is decent in attacking.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of starting: 90%

Patrick Owomoyela- Werder Bremen, 26
Arrived in Werder Bremen after successful spell in Arminia Bielefeld. Fast Right back/ midfielder, but is not exceptional in attack and a liability on defense. Poor games in Champions League and German friendlies makes him an outside choice now.
Chances of making final roster: 30-40%
Chances of starting: 0%

Andreas Hinkel- VfB Stuttgart, 23
An attack minded right full-back, Hinkel plays better for country than for club. Frozen out by Trappatoni this year, his chances of making German squad has taken a bit of a hit.
Chances of making final roster: 50-60%
Chances of Starting: 10%

Moritz Volz- Fulham FC (ENG), 22
Another attack-minded full-back, Volz has not yet featured for Germany under Klinsmann yet, but a couple of good seasons in Fulham has forced him into the reckoning among some people.
Chances of making final roster: 10%
Chances of Starting: 0%

Philip Lahm- FC Bayern Munchen, 22
An attack minded left full-back, Lahm was a revelation in Euro 2004. A severe injury this year though has put him out of action for some time and it remains to be seen if he will return back to form as he has just come back.
Chances of making final roster: 85%, 100% if he comes back to form
Chances of starting: 50% now, 90% if he comes back to form

Marcell Jansen- Borussia Monchengladbach, 20
Another attack-minded left full back, he is on the NT due to injury to Lahm. Exciting prospect, quite fast and a good dribbler. A bit of a defensive liability at times.
Chances of making final roster: 75%
CHances of Starting: 45% if Lahm doesn't go back to form, 5% if he does.

Malik Fathi- Hertha BSC, 22
A more defensive minded Left Back, he has not yet gotten a call by Jurgen Klinsmann even though he has had great displays for U-21s and Hertha. A better defensive force than Lahm or Jansen, he heads the ball really well and has improved his attacking, although much work remains to be done.
Chances of making final roster: 20%
Chances of Starting: 5%

Christian Woerns- Borussia Dortmund, 33
He may be old and a bit slow, but never count out Woerns for Germany. Still good in the air and good at anticipating, Woerns still has a good chance to make WC roster, even if Klinsmann may not like him.
Chances of making final roster: 50%
CHances of starting: 25%

Christoph Metzelder- Borussia Dortmund, 25
Had a great WC 2002 tournament, but a rash of serious injuries has prevented him from playing regularly from then until this year. He has returned almost to form, and will certainly be in the roster for the World Cup. He may have a lost a step due to injury, but hes good in the air and anticipates well.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of starting: 75%

Lukas Sinkiewicz- 1. FC Koln, 20
Great young talent who has forced his way into the German NT setup. A tall lad, good in the air, but still too young and his anticipation skills are not of international ability. Fast enough, though, he will learn this year in the Bundesliga and international friendlies hopefully.
Chances of making final roster: 50%
Chances of starting: 25%

Per Mertesacker- Hannover 96, 21
Another great talent who had a good Confederations Cup and will probably partner Metzelder in defense for WC. Good in the air and a tough tackler, he is learning fast and is becoming faster and smarter on the field.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of starting: 65%

Robert Huth- Chelsea, 21
A great talent, he is a tall guy. Problem is: he doesn't play! Not at all a regular for Chelsea, he is a liability and doesn't read the game too well. Shows the depth of German NT center defense that he appears here.
Chances of making final roster: 50%
Chances of Starting: 10%

Some defenders who may force themselves into the reckoning:
Manuel Friedrich, FSV Mainz, 26, CD
Alexander Madlung, Hertha BSC, 23, CD


MIDFIELDERS:
Michael Ballack- FC Bayern Munchen- 29
Quite simply, one of the best players in the world. He is Germany's all-action midfielder and captain, at one moment, leading the German charge in attack, in the next, tackling the ******** out of a player. Great header, tackler, good speed, great dribbling and tackling. All too often the focus of much media pressure, Ballack will need to be on his best game in the World Cup for Germany to win it.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of Starting: 100%

Bastian Schweinsteiger- FC Bayern Munchen, 21
One of the great young talents of the world, Schweinsteiger has forced his way into the Bayern and German NT setup with some great performances. A great dribbler who pops in with goals and assists, Schweinsteiger is an exciting player. Has a great partnership with Lukas Podolski. Can play attacking wing or center.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of starting: 90%

Sebastian Deisler- FC Bayern Munchen, 25
One of the great German talents a few years ago, Deisler has suffered from depression, injuries and other demons which has prevented him from being a great player. Great in free kicks and in dribbling and in passing, Deisler is unfortunately very dimunative (for a German) and injury-prone. Can play attacking wing or center.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of starting: 35%

Bernd Schneider- Bayer Leverkusen 04, 32
A very versatile player, Schneider has played RW, LW, LB and even RB for Germany. A great crosser of the ball, Schneider may lack the speed and size of his counterparts, but makes up for it in guile and technique. Also a dead ball specialist like Deisler.
Chances of making final roster: 90%
Chances of starting: 25%

Torsten Frings- Werder Bremen, 29
A versatile midfielder who could play DM, CM, AM or RW, Frings has not produced the type of displays for Germany as he has for Werder Bremen or Borussia Dortmund. He is a good tackler who has a good eye for goal, but is prone to mistakes and sometimes doesn't read the game well.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chanes of starting: 50%

Fabian Ernst- Schalke 04, 26
Another versatile midfielder who can play DM, CM and either wing, Ernst, too, has suffered from lack of form for German NT side. Has basically the same weaknesses and strengths as Frings, except he is lazier and is better at dead ball situations
Chances of making final roster: 90%
Chances of starting: 50%

Sebastian Kehl- Borussia Dortmund, 25
A defensive midfielder, Kehl is a tough tackling midfielder. Many believe that he should start over Ernst or Frings in the DM role, but Klinsmann has yet to pick him. More prone to injury than either Frings or Ernst, Kehl has an outside chance of making the roster.
Chances of making final roster: 50$
Chances of starting: 20%

Thomas Hitzlsperger- VfB Stuttgart, 23
Hitzlsperger has had a drop of form lately for Stuttgart, but there is no denying that this guy has one of the most amazing shots in the world. While other parts of his game may be lacking, Hitzlsperger has hit some of the best long range shots in the world and his shot technique for a midfielder is one of the best. However, he is lacking most everywhere else and also has an outside chance of making the roster.
Chances of making final roster: 60%
Chances of starting: 5%

Tim Borowski- SV Werder Bremen, 25
Borowski has had some great displays for Werder recently and has a good chance of making the roster. More of an attacking player, Borowski is a good distributer of the ball. However, sometimes he lacks ideas and is too static.
Chances of making final roster: 70%
Chances of starting: 15%

Dietmar Hamann- Liverpool, 32
A defensive midfielder, Hamann's best days are behind him, but he reads the game well, is a good header, a tough tackler and a good long shot. However, he's lost more than a step and hasn't exactly figured regularly for Liverpool, so he remains an outsider.
Chances of making final roster: 35%
Chances of starting 0%

Some other players who may get into the reckoning for the WC setup in midfield:
Paul Freier- Bayer Leverkusen, 26, RM
Marco Engelhardt- 1. FC Kaiserslautern, 25, DM
Christian Schulz- Werder Bremen, 22, LM
Carsten Ramelow- Bayer Leverkusen, 32, DM
Thorben Marx- Hertha BSC, 24, RM/DM

ATTACKERS:
Lukas Podolski- 1. FC Koln, 20
The best attacking talent out of Germany for many years, Podolski is a left-footed striker who is quite fast and a good finisher. Not a great header, Podolski, however, has a good playing relationship with Bastian Schweinsteiger. Many people expect great things from him, but this years campaign with Koln has been disappointing.
Chances of Making final roster: 100%
Chances of Starting: 80%

Miroslav Klose- Werder Bremen, 27
Currently, the in-form German striker, Klose is an injury-prone forward that has had a good record with Germany. 5 goals in the WC (including a hat-trick against Saudi Arabia) gave him a good reputation. One of the best headers of the ball in the world, Klose is also blessed with good speed, a good first touch and deceptive dribbling skills. He is really predatory against weaker teams. May have to fight Kuranyi or Asamoah for starting job, but his form currently makes him my pick to be the 2nd striker w/ Podolski
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of Starting: 60%

Kevin Kuranyi- Schalke 04, 23
Kuranyi may not be the most talented or most liked striker by German fans, but his good record in the German NT cannot be denied. Kuranyi is a great header of the ball, has good predatory instincts and positions himself well. however, he has a bad first touch and can disappear in games completely.
Chances of making final roster: 100%
Chances of starting: 40%

Gerald Asamoah- Schalke 04, 27
The Ghanaian-born Asamoah has been beset by injuries this year, but will most likely make the roster come June. He is a freakishly powerful player who can play striker or RW, he is pretty fast and has good dribbling skills. However, he is more of a complementary player and isn't the best scorer. Probably best defensive forward in Germany.
Chances of making final roster: 85%
Chances of starting: 20%

Mike Hanke- VfL Wolfsburg, 22
A young German striker who has a real outside chance of making the final roster. HIs cause isn't helped by the fact he is banned from the 1st 2 matches due to his sending off in the Confederations Cup against Mexico. Good in the air and a fair finisher, Hanke just doesn't really have the quality yet to be a German NT starter yet.
Chances of making final roster: 25%
Chances of starting 0%

Some forwards who may force themselves into the reckoning:
Thomas Brdaric- Hannover 96, 30
Nando Rafael- Hertha BSC, 21
Stefan Kiessling- 1. FC Nurnberg, 21
Alexander Meier- Eintracht Frankfurt, 22
Aaron Hunt- Werder Bremen, 19

 

*phew* I was able to to do that in 25 minutes at work...god bless work study.

Please feel free to criticize. This is a democratic server (I hope).

 

Great stuff OLH!

 

I have a good feeling about all the players strengths and witnesses, but I didn't really go on much about their effort on the field...oh well, can't put in everything. hehe.

Not too sure about Borowski though as I have not seen him play at all. Ditto for Owomoyela, I'm just saying what most in the forums would say.

 

One other thing about Borowski is that he has a great outside shot (maybe not as spectacular as Hamann's or Hitz's shots', but still very dangerous). I'd also say he's 100% going to be on the squad barring injury.

I hope Klinsi comes to his senses and leaves Owo and Hitz off the squad.

P.S To Werder fans...

I've noticed Fahrenhorst's starting again. How's he been doing so far? Do you think he has an outside shot of beng one of the 23?

 

I would like to see Robert Enke in the goal. yes, i think hes better than kahn.
Because if Kahn or Lehmann have this defense like hannover, it would look bad for them.

OK all in all, for me its important, that theres is somebody else than Kahn or Lehmann. especially lehmann.

Weidenfeller is a good selection, too. of course.

 

But you have to admit Lehmann has been fantastic this year at Arsenal.

 

He has indeed. He's saved their Arses (not pun intended!) on a number of occasions.

Plus, is it a coincidence that when he was between the pipes against France, that we had our strongest defensive performance (hell, even Huth played well!) in quite some time? I'm not saying it is, but it's something to think about.

 

but both are to old. and sorry, but i never liked lehmann.

 

Age is not so much a factor for keepers as it is with field players. Just look at Kasey Keller for example.

I like Enke, but he lacks (on a relative scale) the big-match experience that Kahn and Lehmann have.

Having said that, there's a big possibility that neither will be the #1 post-WC (though Kahn has said he wants to play EC 2008).

I wouldn't mind having a future GK three of Hildebrand, Weidenfeller, Enke (or Wiese if he returns). But not right away.

 

For WC, there are more pressing issues IMHO than GK...I think we're all set there, it sjust whos going to play.

But who's going to play LB?? Is Lahm going to come back to form? Or will we have to rely on Jansen and maybe even Fathi?

Who among the Ambigiously Mediocre trio of Frings, Ernst or Kehl will play DM? Or will Klinsmann change something so that we don't need theM?

These are more pressing questions IMHO.

But we have different threads for this type of discussion.

 

Me neither, but he's shown be a lot this year esp. If I'd pick Kahn and Lehmann, iono...I still hate Lehmann, I think he's an ass IMHO, but so is Kahn too.

******** it...Hildebrand it is!

 

Is Volz really considered NT material in Germany?

 

I wanted him to leave the club, perhaps i was too fast.

Schaaf gave him a new chance and Fahne seems to use it.
He played class against Panathinaikos and the weeks before he played also not bad. Hope he confirms the good impression and brings the defense more stability. :thmbsup:

Chances to join WC squad:
No big chance IMO.
I don´t think Klinsmann will name him, there are other candidates:
Mertesacker, Metzelder, Huth, Sienkiewicz, ... ,that Klinsmann will nominate.

A Fahne in top-form can compete with them,
but for the next months i would happy if he is in the competition for the defense spots again.

To the criticism of our defense and the defense of the German NT:
You can´t only blame the defenders for it.
Both teams Werder and Germany both play 4-1-2-1-2 systems.
The advantage of the system is that you can make enormous pressure on your opponent, but the system is very offensive and the attackers of the opponent team get very much space.

 

He's a regular with the U21's and will very likely see some more time with the Senior NT in the future. He's been very good for Fulham so far. EDITThough I just noticed that he fractured his ribs this weekend )

OTOH, he's not the huge prospect that Lahm and Jansen are on the left. If both become major factors, we might see Lahm move back to RB in the future (he is right-footed and was originally an RB).

 

Hence why I put his chances in the lineup to be very slim.

Iono if Lahm is better than Friedrich IMHO...what Lahm lacks defensively, Friedrich has, and Friedrich is not that bad offensively. Consider that Friedrich in 88 Bundesliga games, has 10 goals, while Lahm in 53 games only has 2. Neither IIRC has ever scored for the NT (although Lahm may have I'm not sure)

Jansen is a little TOO offensive for me...but in the 4-1-2-1-2 system, he would be perfect for that. So would Lahm on the right.

But I think Germany will be a bit more defensive from now on.

 

i still think we will sell fahne, because Merte should come to Bremen

 

that would be high treason.