The form of Bastian Schweinsteiger will determine whether Philipp Lahm plays as a right-back or defensive midfielder for Germany, according to Franz Beckenbauer’s analysis of the team-selection issues ahead of this year’s World Cup in Brazil. "It depends what condition Basti is in. If he’s in top form, Lahm will have to settle for playing out wide," says Beckenbauer in an interview with Die Welt this week.
Beckenbauer believes that the climate conditions can be overcome "with a little energy and willpower", during the tournament, which runs from 12 June until 13 July, and concludes that Germany have the maturity required to lift the trophy. "I don’t think there is a stronger team out there."
The "Kaiser" also speaks very highly of his club, Bayern Munich, with whom he won four German Championships and three European Cups as a player. "Everything simply fits: Pep Guardiola as coach, Matthias Sammer as a sporting director who has lifted the team out of a rut, and a large squad that has stirred up competition."
Beckenbauer is also frank about whether the arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Dortmund in the summer will spell the end of Mario Mandzukic’s Bayern career. "Yes, I think so. I think Lewandowski will fit in well. His collaborative playing style fits better with Guardiola’s approach than Mandzukic, who is a pure centre forward." He adds: "But it won’t cause any problems; Guardiola is too strong and authoritative to let that happen."
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The form of Bastian Schweinsteiger will determine whether Philipp Lahm plays as a right-back or defensive midfielder for Germany, according to Franz Beckenbauer’s analysis of the team-selection issues ahead of this year’s World Cup in Brazil. "It depends what condition Basti is in. If he’s in top form, Lahm will have to settle for playing out wide," says Beckenbauer in an interview with Die Welt this week.
Beckenbauer believes that the climate conditions can be overcome "with a little energy and willpower", during the tournament, which runs from 12 June until 13 July, and concludes that Germany have the maturity required to lift the trophy. "I don’t think there is a stronger team out there."
The "Kaiser" also speaks very highly of his club, Bayern Munich, with whom he won four German Championships and three European Cups as a player. "Everything simply fits: Pep Guardiola as coach, Matthias Sammer as a sporting director who has lifted the team out of a rut, and a large squad that has stirred up competition."
Beckenbauer is also frank about whether the arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Dortmund in the summer will spell the end of Mario Mandzukic’s Bayern career. "Yes, I think so. I think Lewandowski will fit in well. His collaborative playing style fits better with Guardiola’s approach than Mandzukic, who is a pure centre forward." He adds: "But it won’t cause any problems; Guardiola is too strong and authoritative to let that happen."
