On Wednesday, Germany’s head coach Joachim Löw made his decision public: “Michael Ballack remains as our captain, Michael Neuer is our first choice for goal”.
Löw made his announcement two days ahead of the qualifier in Brussels (8.45 P.M., live on ARD), as the DFB-team kicks off their run for a EURO 2012 ticket. Germany meet Azerbaidjan in a second EURO-qualifier on Tuesday in Cologne.
Philipp Lahm, who wore the captain’s armband during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, was named as deputy captain, and will lead the team onto the field in Brussels and Cologne. Ballack, who has only recently returned from a severe ankle injury received during the F.A. Cup final, was not nominated by Löw for the games against Belgium and Azerbaidjan.
Joachim Löw: "Qualifying round is like a marathon"
“We had an open discussion this week, Michael Ballack and me, followed then by my decision”, said Löw in Frankfurt. “Philipp Lahm handled the duties brilliantly during the World Cup, he’s now Michael’s deputy. Whenever Philipp is absent, Bastian Schweinsteiger then would be his replacement.”
The German coach also talked about the ‘goalkeeper-situation’: “We start into the EURO-qualifying with Manuel Neuer guarding the German goal. We have notified all goalkeepers, that Manuel plays both upcoming games.”
Finishing in third place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup further added to the international reputation and appeal of German football. But Löw stressed, that the qualifying games “are so much different than a tournament, it is more like a marathon. The players need to focus on the task at hand.”
Löw and his team aim to have six points come Tuesday night, yet the 50-year old is far from being disrespectful. “I expext a highly motivated Belgian team”, said Löw.
[bild1] On Wednesday, Germany’s head coach Joachim Löw made his decision public: “Michael Ballack remains as our captain, Michael Neuer is our first choice for goal”.
Löw made his announcement two days ahead of the qualifier in Brussels (8.45 P.M., live on ARD), as the DFB-team kicks off their run for a EURO 2012 ticket. Germany meet Azerbaidjan in a second EURO-qualifier on Tuesday in Cologne.
Philipp Lahm, who wore the captain’s armband during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, was named as deputy captain, and will lead the team onto the field in Brussels and Cologne. Ballack, who has only recently returned from a severe ankle injury received during the F.A. Cup final, was not nominated by Löw for the games against Belgium and Azerbaidjan.
Joachim Löw: "Qualifying round is like a marathon"
“We had an open discussion this week, Michael Ballack and me, followed then by my decision”, said Löw in Frankfurt. “Philipp Lahm handled the duties brilliantly during the World Cup, he’s now Michael’s deputy. Whenever Philipp is absent, Bastian Schweinsteiger then would be his replacement.”
[bild2]
The German coach also talked about the ‘goalkeeper-situation’: “We start into the EURO-qualifying with Manuel Neuer guarding the German goal. We have notified all goalkeepers, that Manuel plays both upcoming games.”
Finishing in third place at the 2010 FIFA World Cup further added to the international reputation and appeal of German football. But Löw stressed, that the qualifying games “are so much different than a tournament, it is more like a marathon. The players need to focus on the task at hand.”
Löw and his team aim to have six points come Tuesday night, yet the 50-year old is far from being disrespectful. “I expext a highly motivated Belgian team”, said Löw.
