Germany ready for life without Ballack
Wednesday, 9 June 2010
ERASMIA, June 8 (AFP): Germany's next generation of stars is ready to step up into the breach left by captain Michael Ballack, who was ruled out of the World Cup with an ankle injury, centre-back Arne Friedrich said Tuesday.
Chelsea midfield general Ballack, 33, suffered his tournament-ending injury in last month's FA Cup final which has dented his country's hopes of winning a fourth World Cup title.
In his absence, 26-year-old Philipp Lahm takes over the captaincy and the Bayern Munich defender can call on some experienced players around him.
Joachim Loew's Germany squad has an average age of just 25, but now is the time for the next generation to prove themselves as leaders, says Friedrich.
Lahm, vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, striker Miroslav Klose, Hertha Berlin's Friedrich and fellow defender Per Mertesacker are part of the group which makes up the Germany team's players council.
Even with Ballack out, there is still plenty of leadership potential in the Germany squad as they are set to open their World Cup campaign against Australia in Durban Sunday before taking on Serbia and Ghana in Group D.
"The captain's role has been distributed around, we have a players council and the older players will need to lead the way," said the 31-year-old Friedrich, who has 72 caps and has been in the Germany squad for eight years.
"I am part of the council, I have captained Hertha and I feel I can contribute.
"I am no longer just a player who runs up and down the line for 90 minutes.
"As a centre-back, it is my job to organise the defence and that is a position I am comfortable with."
While Friedrich may be comfortable calling the shots on the pitch and marshalling the defence, the German team have problems communicating off it here at their World Cup base near Pretoria.
Chelsea midfield general Ballack, 33, suffered his tournament-ending injury in last month's FA Cup final which has dented his country's hopes of winning a fourth World Cup title.
In his absence, 26-year-old Philipp Lahm takes over the captaincy and the Bayern Munich defender can call on some experienced players around him.
Joachim Loew's Germany squad has an average age of just 25, but now is the time for the next generation to prove themselves as leaders, says Friedrich.
Lahm, vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, striker Miroslav Klose, Hertha Berlin's Friedrich and fellow defender Per Mertesacker are part of the group which makes up the Germany team's players council.
Even with Ballack out, there is still plenty of leadership potential in the Germany squad as they are set to open their World Cup campaign against Australia in Durban Sunday before taking on Serbia and Ghana in Group D.
"The captain's role has been distributed around, we have a players council and the older players will need to lead the way," said the 31-year-old Friedrich, who has 72 caps and has been in the Germany squad for eight years.
"I am part of the council, I have captained Hertha and I feel I can contribute.
"I am no longer just a player who runs up and down the line for 90 minutes.
"As a centre-back, it is my job to organise the defence and that is a position I am comfortable with."
While Friedrich may be comfortable calling the shots on the pitch and marshalling the defence, the German team have problems communicating off it here at their World Cup base near Pretoria.