I can 100% buy that. Basti has character and charisma. his WC14 final vs Argentina, Basti showed everything you want in a captain. But sadly by 2016 when he finally did become captain he seemed to have been gazed out and wasn't the same player anymore. WC14 was his real end. while Lahm seems dull as a log and mostly emotionless type. Even when he does interviews, he doesn't come off likeable and I feel like he's one who thinks he's smart but isn't too, LOL. Also less we forget that he wrote a book where he was shitting on other people and caused uproar. Fantastic player and probably one of best RBs of all time but as a person, he leaves a LOT to be desired.
I remember Lahm raised eyebrows when he invited none of his Bayern teammates to his wedding, revealing that he saw them as co-workers and nothing else. I also remember the uproar he caused with his book which lead to Löw privately reprimanding him. There's also rumours from the Bayern camp that Lahm is actually a very cutthroat person. Finally I remember when he did a Q&A in the lead-up to the Euro. His answers were so generic I had to wonder if an actual human being really said those things or they were AI-generated.
LOL the wedding fiasco. Imagine spending all year training with people and NONE of them are your friends, that's awkward. What's worst is that he was also Bayern captain.......that's a captain???? I'm surprised that Low didn't blacklist him, LOL. Likely got a pass because we had 0 LBs and he was our best RB. there was links between him and Bayern and him and Stuttgart and maybe even him and DFB and taking a management job. LOL he likely would be perfect given his personality, no attachments to anyone and cutthroat. yeah either AI or corporate lines. And I recall that too, came off like indifferent even though he was involved in Euro 2024 hosting. guy comes off more like a businessman than footy player.
Maybe iam biased because Lahm is my favorite player of all time, but you can never question his attitude on the field. Captains come in many different styles, Lahm was the captain who lead by example type. He never quit, he gave his all from the first to the very last minute and won almost all his duels and did everything was asked of him as a right back and as a midfielder. The only blemish on his career is his mistake in the 2008 final against Spain. Kroos is a very similar personality in Bayern with the national team and in Madrid. I remember few Madrid players talking about how he never went to team outings/dinners/catch ups.....He did his job and then went home. Lahm was/is the same. I dont really think there is anything wrong with that. As for our next captain. I would like someone who is going to be there for the next 4-5 years, that rules out Rüdiger for me, I dont want Kimmich either but I think he is the only realistic choice.
In the modern era many teams have multiple leaders and small group teams Schweini was able to influence the game heavily from central midfield - his role was taken over by Kroos who in many respects was the overall leader of the side. This is why all the criticism of Kroos after 2018 was so stupid. You don't get more of a cold blooded winner than him. Mueller was motivator and onfield organiser - e.g the press Neuer and Hummels really led the defence. Lahm was everything you could want in an overall leader - it's just people notice the Mueller type more.
his blemish against Spain in 2008 was also fault of bang average GK Lehmann both blundered like idiots. That's huge one and main reason we haven't won Euro since 1996, we wasted our best chance and also allowed Spain to kickstart their entry into winning trophies. I still don't see anything captain like from him and I always forgot he was captain. Leading by example isn't something noteworthy because it insuniates that he's only player that lead by example..........he wasn't, especially NOT during our peak years. I said it before but the NT in 2000s-2016 had TONS of players who were captain potential and could easily have been captain, Lahm was nothing special in that regard. Also show me one player during Lahm's time that didn't lead by example, who quit, and didn't do everything asked of.....these are all basic things, that's NOT leadership. Also he was GARBAGE as a M as well and should never have played there. From 2018-present there are no real captain potential anywhere. Kroos wasn't the captain of either Real or Germany, Lahm was, which why its cringe. Rudiger will be 35 y/o in 4 years, one can still play at that age. Numerous NTs have had CBs that old still play for them.
LOL, 40 y/o Neuer here we come. He wants to be Buffon 2.0. Manuel Neuer has decided to continue with the national team and is eyeing the 2026 World Cup. However, the goalkeeper will not be in the squad for the upcoming Nations League games in September [@cfbayern, @altobelli13] pic.twitter.com/BSjEoZxbei— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) August 20, 2024 ter Stegen will never become #1 at this point, LOL. can we just move on from Neuer already, WC22-EC24 one can see that he's not peak anymore and makes mistakes and slowing down. everyone has left except for him, no more Kroos, Muller, Gundo but he insists on continuing.
I saw a great interview with Roy Keane talking about how leadership worked at Utd in the peak 90s side he starred in. He said the perception from outside the team was that he was the big leader on field, and SAF the tough manager with the hairdryer. But from inside the team did not work like that. SAF seldom shouted at them. And there were many leaders within the team. Keane was not the guy talking most in the dressing room for example. It was much more likely to be someone like Giggs calling someone out than him. However because Keane played central midfield - that meant he was much more able to control the game
Neuer.. absolute madness. It seems that he also only wants to play qualification and tourney matches. The guy has to go now. It's getting ridiculous.
If Neuer plays the 2026 World Cup in addition to Nagelsmann's insistence on playing Havertz upfront, then there's just no way Germany will win the World Cup.
The captain should be someone pretty much guaranteed to start every match over the next two years under Nagelsmann. Which means it obviously should be Kai Havertz
Neuer announced his retirement from the NT. For one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, all words seem too small. But they come from the heart: Thank you, Manu! For your unique, outstanding successes, of course. But especially for your camaraderie, your dedication, your inspiration for fellow players and millions of fans and footballers around the world. You have changed the game of goalkeeping, you have shaped it. Just like this team. Your team. As a back-up. As captain. As a role model. As a world champion. As a friend. We will miss you! ❤️ #dfbteam @Manuel_Neuer DFB/Philipp Reinhard/Getty Images Translated with DeepL.com (free version) Für einen der größten Torhüter aller Zeiten scheinen alle Worte zu klein. Aber sie kommen von Herzen: Danke, Manu! Natürlich für Deine einzigartigen, herausragenden Erfolge. Aber ganz besonders auch für Deine Kameradschaft, Deine Hingabe, Deine Inspiration für Mitspieler und… pic.twitter.com/eTufV7CkG4— DFB-Team (@DFB_Team) August 21, 2024
good news we don't need a 40 y/o GK at WC26, its time to move on and he wasn't that great at WC22-EC24 either and only got the #1 out of pure bias. ter Stegen is finally going to be Germany #1 and he'll be 34 y/o at WC26, LOL, likely won't last more then 2 tourneys MAX.
Lothar Matthäus on the new Germany captain(s): "A lot speaks for Joshua Kimmich now. I'm a fan of his. He can play at a world class level in two positions. He leads the way, he hits the nail on the head, he's highly intelligent and can read the game. I see Jonathan Tah as vice… pic.twitter.com/exjWYJamH4— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) August 21, 2024 Kimmich and Tah doesn't seem like a WC winning captain/vice captain combination.
Among all of these retirements this one hurts the most from sporting impact standpoint as well as emotionally
Kimmich never struck me as a leader, but rather as a petulant crybaby. Oh well. Neuer's retirement from the NT marks the end of a generation that IMO should have won more than just one World Cup.
Farewell to one of the GOATS. No doubt in his prime he was unblievably good, and he inspired the current wave of goalkeepers who are thriving now
for me its not even that emotional. personally I think I lost interest in Neuer after WC22 and had already mentally checked out towards him 2 years ago. From then on, its basically when is this guy gonna retire. honestly I felt more sad when Kahn retired. LOL both Kahn and Neuer retired in home tourney.
One thing is certain, Neuer is Germany's worst ever captain, with two World Cup group stage exits and one Euro last 16 exit. Let's hope no other future Germany captain does worse than him.