After sustaining an injury in the DFB Cup final against Borussia Dortmund, Philipp Lahm "underwent an MRT scan that revealed I have a capsule tear in my ankle". But in an interview with German newspaper Bild, the Germany captain gave reassurance that "it only means a few days out. By the World Cup I’ll be fully fit again."
Ahead of today’s start to the South Tyrol training camp and with just four weeks to go until Die Mannschaft’s first World Cup group game against Portugal at 18 CET on 16 June in Salvador, Lahm has outlined the areas his team will be focusing on before the tournament. "Above all, we’ve got to work on our defence," said the 30-year-old. "We’ve conceded too many goals recently and given our opponents too many good chances to score. We’ve got to pay greater attention to how our defence is set up, and every member of the team has a part to play in that."
Meanwhile, the Bayern stalwart has no concerns about a shortage of options in attack, even though only two allocated strikers – Miroslav Klose and Kevin Volland – have been named in the squad. "These days, all the top clubs and national sides supplement their classic centre-forwards with attacking players who are more technically adept and link up play more effectively, and we’ve got several of those."
“Talent and self-esteem must be put to use for the team”
For Lahm, there is no doubt that Germany can now lift the trophy after two third-place finishes at the last two World Cup tournaments. After adding the DFB Cup to their German championship crown last weekend, the hunger shown by his Bayern side should provide an extra boost. "We’re all now eager to get our hands on the World Cup trophy," said Lahm. "We’ve got what it takes to win the title; now we just have to ensure that the talent and self-esteem of each individual is put to use for the team. We need heart and passion in Brazil."
This summer’s tournament will be the 30-year-old’s third World Cup after Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, and he is determined to take advantage of what might be his last chance of international glory: "I don’t want to go out in the semi-final or fly to Brazil just to enjoy the sunshine. I’ve got one clear target, and that’s the ultimate success – lifting the World Cup trophy."
After this year’s competition, the defensive all-rounder hopes to join national team coach Joachim Löw at the 2016 European Championship in France: "The fact is that he has a contract, we work very well with him as a team and he always sets us up extremely well tactically."
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[bild1]
After sustaining an injury in the DFB Cup final against Borussia Dortmund, Philipp Lahm "underwent an MRT scan that revealed I have a capsule tear in my ankle". But in an interview with German newspaper Bild, the Germany captain gave reassurance that "it only means a few days out. By the World Cup I’ll be fully fit again."
Ahead of today’s start to the South Tyrol training camp and with just four weeks to go until Die Mannschaft’s first World Cup group game against Portugal at 18 CET on 16 June in Salvador, Lahm has outlined the areas his team will be focusing on before the tournament. "Above all, we’ve got to work on our defence," said the 30-year-old. "We’ve conceded too many goals recently and given our opponents too many good chances to score. We’ve got to pay greater attention to how our defence is set up, and every member of the team has a part to play in that."
Meanwhile, the Bayern stalwart has no concerns about a shortage of options in attack, even though only two allocated strikers – Miroslav Klose and Kevin Volland – have been named in the squad. "These days, all the top clubs and national sides supplement their classic centre-forwards with attacking players who are more technically adept and link up play more effectively, and we’ve got several of those."
[bild2]
“Talent and self-esteem must be put to use for the team”
For Lahm, there is no doubt that Germany can now lift the trophy after two third-place finishes at the last two World Cup tournaments. After adding the DFB Cup to their German championship crown last weekend, the hunger shown by his Bayern side should provide an extra boost. "We’re all now eager to get our hands on the World Cup trophy," said Lahm. "We’ve got what it takes to win the title; now we just have to ensure that the talent and self-esteem of each individual is put to use for the team. We need heart and passion in Brazil."
This summer’s tournament will be the 30-year-old’s third World Cup after Germany 2006 and South Africa 2010, and he is determined to take advantage of what might be his last chance of international glory: "I don’t want to go out in the semi-final or fly to Brazil just to enjoy the sunshine. I’ve got one clear target, and that’s the ultimate success – lifting the World Cup trophy."
After this year’s competition, the defensive all-rounder hopes to join national team coach Joachim Löw at the 2016 European Championship in France: "The fact is that he has a contract, we work very well with him as a team and he always sets us up extremely well tactically."
