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[Blwe_torch]

Germany strong enough without me: Ballack
REUTERS, May 18, 2010, 10.10pm IST

MUNICH (Germany): Germany can overcome the absence of injured captain Michael Ballack with younger players taking on more responsibility at the World Cup, the Chelsea midfielder said on Tuesday.

The 33-year-old Ballack picked up an ankle injury in Saturday's FA Cup final against Portsmouth, limping off during his team's 1-0 win after a late tackle by Kevin-Prince Boateng.

Despite being ruled out for eight weeks and missing what would have been his third World Cup, Ballack flew to Germany's pre-tournament training camp in Italy to support his team.

"Clearly on the one hand when the captain is out then it is difficult for any team and I have been there many years, a very experienced player for a young team," he said in an interview with the German soccer federation.

"But on the other hand maybe it will give the team a boost. "Individual players will advance faster and demand more from themselves. That is what needs to happen now. Players who had responsibilities will take on more. We have proved in the past that when it matters we rise to the occasion."

Germany have been drawn with Serbia, Australia and Ghana in Group D at the tournament starting on June 11 in South Africa.

"The team has the quality and hopefully will play a good tournament," Ballack, wearing a Germany shirt and tracksuit, said.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has yet to decide whether to call up another player but he will need to reshuffle to cover the absence of his most influential midfielder.

Ballack ruled out international retirement with Euro 2012 qualifying due to start after the World Cup.

"I want to become healthy as quickly as possible and use this break to fill up with energy as this was a long season," he said after winning the league and cup double with Chelsea.

"I still feel fit and have played at a high level at Chelsea the past few years and want to continue doing that. As long as I can do that why should I stop from the national team?"
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Sports/Events-Tournaments/FIFA-World-Cup/Top-stories/Germany-strong-enough-without-me-Ballack/articleshow/5946313.cms

[vincent]

Well, this WC is another event which will encourage some discussion on this DG which is  for now.

Balack is anyway not as good as he used to be. Even in the last WC he was wounded and not very effective overall.

[feverpitch]

With Ballack out, Germany can now play the game they are typically famous for — forget about any kind of aesthetics, just grind out a result using sheer physicality, experience and never-say-die attitude. And they have the ideal Teutonic monster to let loose amongst the chicken in the form of Bastian Shweinsteiger, the protege of Steffan Effenberg, with a name to reflect his growling presence. This is a line with rich history and goes all the way back to Fritz Walter, through Hans-Georg Shwarzenbeck, Horst Hrubesch, Lothar Matthaeus, Mathias Sammer — each with a 6 ft Neanderthal frame, a leonine growl and a name that demands a Nazi salute!

[Blwe_torch]

My favorite German was the 'dive-bomber' Juergen Klinsmann( ideal forward) and Thomas Hassler ( great ball skills).......not to mention the mid-field powerhouse Lothar Matheus. Another golden oldie was Paul Breitner.

This time I am pinning my hopes on Lucas Podolski.

[feverpitch]

My favorite German was the 'dive-bomber' Juergen Klinsmann( ideal forward) and Thomas Hassler ( great ball skills).......not to mention the mid-field powerhouse Lothar Matheus. Another golden oldie was Paul Breitner.

This time I am pinning my hopes on Lucas Podolski.

That, by the way is part of the typical German gameplan — let a striker hang around the opponent's six yard box, lob in high crosses, and hope for the best. On this too, they have been blessed with a line of excellent headers, from Muller to Hrubesch, to Voeller, Klinsmann, Bierhof, Klose, Podolski et al. However, let's not forget that both the Polish origin strikers are so out of form that they have even lost their regular places in their respective club sides.

[Cernunnos]

With Ballack out, Germany can now play the game they are typically famous for — forget about any kind of aesthetics, just grind out a result using sheer physicality, experience and never-say-die attitude. And they have the ideal Teutonic monster to let loose amongst the chicken in the form of Bastian Shweinsteiger, the protege of Steffan Effenberg, with a name to reflect his growling presence. This is a line with rich history and goes all the way back to Fritz Walter, through Hans-Georg Shwarzenbeck, Horst Hrubesch, Lothar Matthaeus, Mathias Sammer — each with a 6 ft Neanderthal frame, a leonine growl and a name that demands a Nazi salute!

What does the inhuman Oliver Kahn demand then? Btw, Schweinsteiger reminds me of Brett Lee.

[feverpitch]

Ollie Kahn and his kahndaan — demand nothing less than Klaus Kinski

[Blwe_torch]

My favorite German was the 'dive-bomber' Juergen Klinsmann( ideal forward) and Thomas Hassler ( great ball skills).......not to mention the mid-field powerhouse Lothar Matheus. Another golden oldie was Paul Breitner.

This time I am pinning my hopes on Lucas Podolski.

That, by the way is part of the typical German gameplan — let a striker hang around the opponent's six yard box, lob in high crosses, and hope for the best. On this too, they have been blessed with a line of excellent headers, from Muller to Hrubesch, to Voeller, Klinsmann, Bierhof, Klose, Podolski et al. However, let's not forget that both the Polish origin strikers are so out of form that they have even lost their regular places in their respective club sides.

With Peter Crouch.....England has a similar approach, with a lose forward in the business area.
But Klinsmann was not just a striker hanging around, he used to share a lot of work-load in the mid-field, if you remember.

[feverpitch]

My favorite German was the 'dive-bomber' Juergen Klinsmann( ideal forward) and Thomas Hassler ( great ball skills).......not to mention the mid-field powerhouse Lothar Matheus. Another golden oldie was Paul Breitner.

This time I am pinning my hopes on Lucas Podolski.

That, by the way is part of the typical German gameplan — let a striker hang around the opponent's six yard box, lob in high crosses, and hope for the best. On this too, they have been blessed with a line of excellent headers, from Muller to Hrubesch, to Voeller, Klinsmann, Bierhof, Klose, Podolski et al. However, let's not forget that both the Polish origin strikers are so out of form that they have even lost their regular places in their respective club sides.

With Peter Crouch.....England has a similar approach, with a lose forward in the business area.
But Klinsmann was not just a striker hanging around, he used to share a lot of work-load in the mid-field, if you remember.

His all round game developed, I'd say, after the 1990 WC and after his move to Tottenham. In the 1990 WC he was still the opportunist striker, with great physical skills and 'diving' ability.

[vincent]

The best German player of all time was Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Mueller with the best goal keeper being Sepp Maier all belonging to the same club team (Bayern) in its golden age. Surprised to see their name is not mentionned in this post by the so-called experts.

[Blwe_torch]

The best German player of all time was Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Mueller with the best goal keeper being Sepp Maier all belonging to the same club team (Bayern) in its golden age. Surprised to see their name is not mentionned in this post by the so-called experts.

Nobody is a so-called expert here.
Thanks you mentioned their name...............infact Feverpitch did mention Muller.
I kept my posts limited to ppl who played in the 90s and the recent years.

[feverpitch]

The best German player of all time was Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Mueller with the best goal keeper being Sepp Maier all belonging to the same club team (Bayern) in its golden age. Surprised to see their name is not mentionned in this post by the so-called experts.

The idea of "the best player" is surely subjective, though with Beckenbauer there might be some degree of unanimity. Anyway, I wasn't talking about "the best", I was talking about "the typical" if you haven't noticed. And yes, I looooove dropping names!!!
But seriously, why this fear about history? Not something to do with childhood traumas, I hope?

[vincent]

The best German player of all time was Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Mueller with the best goal keeper being Sepp Maier all belonging to the same club team (Bayern) in its golden age. Surprised to see their name is not mentionned in this post by the so-called experts.

The idea of "the best player" is surely subjective, though with Beckenbauer there might be some degree of unanimity. Anyway, I wasn't talking about "the best", I was talking about "the typical" if you haven't noticed. And yes, I looooove dropping names!!!
But seriously, why this fear about history? Not something to do with childhood traumas, I hope?

OK. I still believe that Beckenbauer belongs to the trio - the three GOATs of World Soccer. Pelé being the other obvious one. The Third one is debatable. Most people think it should be Maradona. But especially after his cheating hand-goal in 86, my choice is Johan Cruyff though he retired early just as Borg.

[feverpitch]

Hmmm... Personally, while he was playing, I wasn't as enamoured of El Diego as I am now. Partially, that's because I don't buy these theories about 'fairplay' anymore... Now that I can see as much world soccer as I want to, and have found cheating and 'gamesmanship' is something everyone engages in, as much as they can. Some are better at it. That's all. Others have a blind and 'patriotic' media finding excuses for their failures even before thought of them.
Incidentally, no one mentions how Maradona punched a ball away from the goalline but got unpunished, and won a crucial match against Russia in the Italia90 1st round. Is it bcoz it was againat Russia, or bcoz we only read 2nd hand stuff written by 3rd rate british hacks?
No one also mentions playacting by Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney. Bcoz they r Brits? So what are we? Bastard children of Maccaulay?
Now that the WC is on, I'm waiting for another tirade of snide comments about "latin trickery", "african naivete", "german industry" and other such lazy monickers in the name of journalism. What does that make the Brits--- sissies? fags? dandies? fops?
Certainly their WAGS are no comparison to the WAGS of the Italians.
Anyway, I'm always inclined in favour of ball play, so Maradona comes first in my list. Cryuff, Pele, Garrincha, Zico, Hagi, Gullit, Zidane, Platini, Eusebio, P
uskas, Hidekuti, DeStefano, Didi, Socrates, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo--- they all appear afterwards in no particular order. In terms of German football, Littbarski, Rummenigge, Hassler, Seeler, Breitner come to mind with Beckenbaeur

[Cernunnos]

Hmmm... Personally, while he was playing, I wasn't as enamoured of El Diego as I am now. Partially, that's because I don't buy these theories about 'fairplay' anymore... Now that I can see as much world soccer as I want to, and have found cheating and 'gamesmanship' is something everyone engages in, as much as they can. Some are better at it. That's all. Others have a blind and 'patriotic' media finding excuses for their failures even before thought of them.
Incidentally, no one mentions how Maradona punched a ball away from the goalline but got unpunished, and won a crucial match against Russia in the Italia90 1st round. Is it bcoz it was againat Russia, or bcoz we only read 2nd hand stuff written by 3rd rate british hacks?
No one also mentions playacting by Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney. Bcoz they r Brits? So what are we? Bastard children of Maccaulay?
Now that the WC is on, I'm waiting for another tirade of snide comments about "latin trickery", "african naivete", "german industry" and other such lazy monickers in the name of journalism. What does that make the Brits--- sissies? fags? dandies? fops?
Certainly their WAGS are no comparison to the WAGS of the Italians.
Anyway, I'm always inclined in favour of ball play, so Maradona comes first in my list. Cryuff, Pele, Garrincha, Zico, Hagi, Gullit, Zidane, Platini, Eusebio, P
uskas, Hidekuti, DeStefano, Didi, Socrates, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo--- they all appear afterwards in no particular order. In terms of German football, Littbarski, Rummenigge, Hassler, Seeler, Breitner come to mind with Beckenbaeur

English football is rubbish, and are famous only for their hooligans. Their last decent player was Linekar. They should go the cricket way and scout for boer blood in SA.

Ribery and Henry have made France into my enemy no. 1 team. Sad, because last year I supported France because of the great Zizou. It is high time Africa and Asia rise as serious contenders. It will take the first week of the WC to decide on my favourites..

[feverpitch]

About Henry, I'm with you. Much of his reputation is built upon his stint with EPL.
Ribery, I don't know. There is a buccaneering attitude in him reminiscent of Cantona. After all, there is no pretense to greatness or sophistication, unlike Henry... And most footballers, coming from poor backgrounds are naturally loutish.

[Blwe_torch]

Fever...u have missed out on Lothar Matheus, Gerd Mueller and Helmut Rahn from Germany...........................................Gascoigne from England..............not to mention a whole bunch of Italian players......like Rossi, Baggio, Baresi, Del Piero, etc

[Cernunnos]

About Henry, I'm with you. Much of his reputation is built upon his stint with EPL.
Ribery, I don't know. There is a buccaneering attitude in him reminiscent of Cantona. After all, there is no pretense to greatness or sophistication, unlike Henry... And most footballers, coming from poor backgrounds are naturally loutish.

I'll agree with your comment on Ribery, I will also add that he is one of their more attractive players. However he has made claims of piousness after his neo-conversion and yet apparently doesn't seem to mind what he did with that teenager. Also Domenech is still manager of Les Blues. This man has built a reputation feeding off Zidane, now we shall see what he is really worth.

[WicketView]

The best German player of all time was Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Mueller with the best goal keeper being Sepp Maier all belonging to the same club team (Bayern) in its golden age. Surprised to see their name is not mentionned in this post by the so-called experts.

Nobody is a so-called expert here.

Yes how can Vincent insult us by prepending a "so-called"

Thanks you mentioned their name...............infact Feverpitch did mention Muller.
I kept my posts limited to ppl who played in the 90s and the recent years.

[WicketView]

The best German player of all time was Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Mueller with the best goal keeper being Sepp Maier all belonging to the same club team (Bayern) in its golden age. Surprised to see their name is not mentionned in this post by the so-called experts.

The idea of "the best player" is surely subjective, though with Beckenbauer there might be some degree of unanimity. Anyway, I wasn't talking about "the best", I was talking about "the typical" if you haven't noticed. And yes, I looooove dropping names!!!
But seriously, why this fear about history? Not something to do with childhood traumas, I hope?

OK. I still believe that Beckenbauer belongs to the trio - the three GOATs of World Soccer. Pelé being the other obvious one. The Third one is debatable. Most people think it should be Maradona. But especially after his cheating hand-goal in 86, my choice is Johan Cruyff though he retired early just as Borg.

You are talking about some of the best players of the century. However, if you are talking about what "most people" think,  I am quite certain that Maradona would be either one or two ... not 3. Beckenbauer is probably the most influential player in the game over his lifetime, but I am not sure he would get a lot of votes from "most people" simply because goal scorers or playmakers are
 liked, much like the six hitter of cricket.

[WicketView]

....

Ribery and Henry have made France into my enemy no. 1 team. Sad, because last year I supported France because of the great Zizou. It is high time Africa and Asia rise as serious contenders. It will take the first week of the WC to decide on my favourites..

What is objectionable with those two? ... I have not been following them.

[Blwe_torch]

The best German player of all time was Beckenbauer followed by Gerd Mueller with the best goal keeper being Sepp Maier all belonging to the same club team (Bayern) in its golden age. Surprised to see their name is not mentionned in this post by the so-called experts.

Nobody is a so-called expert here.

Yes how can Vincent insult us by prepending a "so-called"

Thanks you mentioned their name...............infact Feverpitch did mention Muller.
I kept my posts limited to ppl who played in the 90s and the recent years.

Exactly.

Even the 'expert' word was below the belt. He could have safely used 'us key-pad experts'..............that would have covered us all fair and square.

[feverpitch]

Ribery is an unrepentant paedophile, while St. Henry is quite devilish in his use of his hand --- luckily he used it against England-lite(Ireland), not the 'parent' country, or else a far more severe media-lynching would have met him.

[WicketView]

My favorite German was the 'dive-bomber' Juergen Klinsmann( ideal forward) and Thomas Hassler ( great ball skills).......not to mention the mid-field powerhouse Lothar Matheus. Another golden oldie was Paul Breitner.

This time I am pinning my hopes on Lucas Podolski.

That, by the way is part of the typical German gameplan — let a striker hang around the opponent's six yard box, lob in high crosses, and hope for the best. On this too, they have been blessed with a line of excellent headers, from Muller to Hrubesch, to Voeller, Klinsmann, Bierhof, Klose, Podolski et al. However, let's not forget that both the Polish origin strikers are so out of form that they have even lost their regular places in their respective club sides.

Still they did not have enough trouble (though they converted a small fraction of chances) against a lowly Australia. Of the first few
teams to play even bad teams, this counts as the best performance.

[dextrous]

the Aussies looked pretty amateurish. How did they get this high in the rankings?

[feverpitch]

I agree. Like typical German teams, they were absolutely ruthless against lesser opponents. But did they provide viewing pleasure --- not to me, for sure, because 90 mins of high tempo running is not what I call great football. Football for me is all about a slow build up culminating in a lightning strike --- its the change in tempo that gets the adrenaline flowing.

However, saturation TV coverage demands eyeballs be rooted on the soccer screen --- hands away from the remote --- so the game had to change --- look at how even Argentina played a constant high tempo game, and so will (Dunga's) Brazil --- though I hope not!

Anyway, these German strikers might be finding form, though you can never say much going by Klose's goal yesterday --- he could have slept thru his --- such headers are his bread and butter --- of his now 11 WC goals, about 9-10 will have been from headers.

[Blwe_torch]

Well, this German team isn't brilliant like the team of the early nineties, but it is also not one of those dour German teams of the yore.
Yesterday they played some pressing football and I believe, it was a very good victory for a start.
I hope Klose maintains his touch even in the business end of the tournament.

[feverpitch]

Personally, I hate to use brilliance with any German teams, but I think their back would be more vulnerable in the face of stronger attack. Meanwhile, as I had expected, ballack's absence will not be felt -- Mesut Ozil is filling in nicely.
As for Ozzies, they have bribed the AFC into joining them -- ensuring smooth qualification.

[Blwe_torch]

Germany shows there’s no copyright to beauty in football
Avijit Ghosh,  14 June 2010, 08:46 PM IST

On Sunday, the impossible happened at Durban’s Moses Mabhida stadium in South Africa. Germany played the most appetising and pretty-as-you-please football of the 2010 World Cup yet. And that includes Argentina’s performance in its opening game, barring Lionel Messi’s riveting solos. Germany showed nobody holds the copyright to beauty in football.
 
What we saw on Sunday wasn’t exactly a revelation. Four years ago, coach Jurgen Klinsmann’s team had also lit up World Cup 2006. Then too, they had played with heart and flair, attributes seldom associated with Deutschland football. Suddenly, the German game wasn’t just ruthlessly efficient; it was entertaining too. The unspeakable truth is -– and I say this as a die-hard Brazil fan --  that they played neater, niftier football than the Selecaos in 2006.
 
True, one swallow doesn’t make a summer. But against Australia, German coach Joachin Low’s men emphatically underlined what one suspected all along: that eye-pleasing football can flower anywhere. All it needs is a bunch of talented footballers and a coach who dares to unfurl an alternative vision.
 
At least on Sunday, Germany lived up to that noble sentiment. The World Cup is only eight games old and no country has come remotely close to playing the beautiful game the way they did.

Captain Lahmm and company showed it all: patient build-up, swift, short inter-passing, sudden burst of acceleration. But what left the Australians clutching air, occasionally their hair, was the off-the-ball movement of Lahmm and company. There was always enough space to receive the tightest of passes. Towards the end, the Australians, also known as Socceroos, gave the distinct look of being outclassed. They really don’t mince words or hide feelings Down Under.

There was some great wing-play too, especially from the young guns: Thomas Mueller, the 20-year-old attacking medio who had flowered in Bayern Munich under an equally attacking-minded coach Louis van Gaal this season. Then there was Mesut Uzil. The 22-year-old midfielder of Turkish descent from Werder Bremen showed pace, precision, vision, that much-loved but increasingly rare quality in football, elegance sans flamboyance. Sami Khedari, another 23-year-old midfielder, filled in Ballack’s shoes adroitly. He was certainly more creative and attacking than the latter. But, I guess, Ballack’s defensive skills would be missed in the tighter games.

The history of football has always been a long battle between art and science, of football for the sake of winning and football for the sake of winning with style. Once upon a time, Brazil was the most fervent practitioner of the latter. That’s what made the Samba boys the most favoured and loved team across the globe. But since the 1990s, Brazil has traded its soul for success. As fans of Brazil, we all know that even though we do not admit it.

It’s good that Germany, once the most professional and well-organised specialists of efficiency, has decided to explore alternate ways of playing the game. There are no guarantees to success. There never will be. One thing is for sure though: anybody who saw them play against Australia Sunday night will be watching each and every game they play.

There could be no greater badge of appreciation for German football.
http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Addictions/entry/germany-shows-there-s-no

[Blwe_torch]

Young Turk, the new German superman
OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT


Johannesburg: A star was born at Soccer City on Wednesday. A 21-year-old German attacking midfielder, who answers to the name of Mesut Oezil, emerged as one of world football’s brightest prospects when his glorious left-footer against Ghana saved the three-time world champions’ Cup campaign.

So stunning was the goal from the Gelsenkirchen native even Germany coach Joachim Loew was left speechless for a couple of seconds. As Oezil sent the Jabulani into the top left corner with a dipping shot, Loew was seen wearing a puzzled look on his face. But the awe made way for euphoria and Loew had joined in the celebrations in a flash.

Oezil still appeared in a daze when he came to collect his Man of the Match award after the match. The media attention he received is usually reserved for top stars and the Werder Bremen youngster didn’t really know how to express his feelings.

“I was lucky… really lucky… I got the winning goal for the team,” was Oezil’s first reaction. “I should have scored in the first half,” Oezil said, referring to a chance he had in the 25th minute. “I really was down when I blew the chance. So, I was more determined to score. I had space in front of me, so I just shot the thing.”

However modestly Oezil might behave, he is definitely the World Cup’s latest hero. So much so that he is already being hailed as Germany’s Lionel Messi. Wary of his powers, England are believed to be chalking out strategies to stop Oezil.

The midfielder himself made things more interesting when he said: “If we bring the kind of effort we showed today (Wednesday), we can beat England as well. That will be a very tough game (against England) because they are stronger than Ghana. But if we put our all into the game, I am positive we will be able to win and proceed further,” Oezil said.

“Our dream is to win the title, that’s the reason we are here. I have no personal goal. We have a team goal and that’s the most important thing.,” Oezil added.

Oezil had a chance to play for Turkey but opted to represent Germany instead. And, although he made his international debut little more than a year ago, Germany’s World Cup hopes, it seems, are heavily dependent on him.

Oezil’s biggest advantage is that he is a technically solid player who loves to create attacks. Against Ghana, he was everywhere — right, left and centre — and was involved in most of their attacks.

Oezil’s sudden rise to stardom has actually created problems for Germany. Loew is desperately trying to keep his new star away from media glare. The fans are calling Oezil the new Messi, Arsenal have suddenly shown an interest in him and all of Germany’s rivals have labelled Oezil as a bigger threat than Miroslav Klose or Lukas Podolski. At the tender age of 21, Oezil is already a key player for a football powerhouse like Germany.

Loew was quick to remind Oezil that he should not get carried away. “He has a long way to go. To be a world class player, he requires a lot of development and needs to be consistent over several years.

“But Mesut, no doubt, has what it takes,” added the coach. “He plays at a very high level. He can win the ball easily and then produce a telling shot. He is a playmaker and can produce defence-splitting passes. He is a player that fits in perfectly with my ideas.”
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100625/jsp/sports/story_12604393.jsp

[Blwe_torch]

Ballack gave Germany their eureka moment
Ian Chadband

Germany’s vibrant assault on a fourth World Cup triumph with their youthful, daring multi-ethnic side was spawned, ironically, during England’s quintessential sporting occasion at Wembley Stadium.

The fact that a nation is now toasting its youngest and most enterprising team in living memory after the thrashing of England can be traced back to the moment when Kevin-Prince Boateng ripped into Michael Ballack’s ankle during the FA Cup final.

With that one dismal challenge, Joachim Loew’s World Cup plans were thrown into disarray in the week that followed with the realisation that his captain, midfield controller and experienced figurehead would play no part. The team which was built around his generalship had to be hastily revamped.

Here was the turning point in the creation of Loew’s new Germany. Just one friendly match against Hungary a couple of weeks after the Wembley game seemed to become his ‘Eureka!’ moment.

Forced to try out something different, with Bastian Schweinsteiger and his Bayern Munich colleagues needing rest after the Champions League final, Ballack’s midfield pips were handed for the day to Stuttgart’s young Sami Khedira, a burgeoning talent but with only three caps to his name.

Loew could only watch with delight as Khedira cut Hungary’s defence apart time and again with his incisive passing. Suddenly, he saw a youngster with not just the skill, but the hunger and temperament, to make the best of his big chance.

And not just him. Up ahead of him, Mesut Oezil, whose place in the final 23 was by no means assured at that point, was excellent, combining well with Miroslav Klose, who after a miserable season at Bayern had not just been offered a lifeline here by Loew but also the captain’s armband for a night. So, new confidence flooded through an old boy too.

“I think that Ballack injury was the turning point in the creation of Loew’s side,” Jorg Mebus, a football writer for the German national news agency tells says. “But it was more than just Khedira coming in; I think Loew changed his thinking about the team after that.”

Was this the point he really fancied he could gamble on youth, the moment when he truly felt tyros like Khedira, Oezil, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Mueller could be trusted to carry the burden of a nation’s hopes?

The results, of course, have been spectacular. And one other thing.

The final triumph for Loew was that Ballack, the man whose injury started the revolution, was not forgotten either. He was last heard of, helping give Jogi the inside track on his Chelsea colleagues and successfully plotting their downfall.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100630/jsp/sports/story_12627404.jsp

[Blwe_torch]

'Dream team' Germany earn plaudits

After scoring four goals in a game for the third time at this World Cup, Germany are "within touching distance of the title".

The emphatic 4-0 thrashing of Argentina has taken Germany through to the last four in convincing style and put them well on course for the vierte Stern - the fourth title - in their history.

"This young German team is storming from win to win with a kind of football which is spellbinding the whole of the world," says the Welt.

"The happy end to this summer fairytale is moving even closer."

The Welt even risked making a comparison between Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lionel Messi, and after a game like that, it is no surprise that the Bayern Munich midfielder came out on top.

"Better than Messi: Schweinsteiger completes his masterpiece," explains the Welt, adding that it was his "best game of the World Cup".

Two other Germany players were picked out by the Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper for praise.

Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose scored just five goals between them in the Bundesliga last season and there had been calls for them to be left out of the squad with the likes of 18-goal hitman Kevin Kuranyi knocking on the national team door.

However, Low insisted that the two strikers had never let him down, and has been proven correct.

"Did he know that Podolski and Klose could turn from Bundesliga kittens into national team lions?" asked the Suddeutsche.

"Germany has to think back a long time to find a team with such talent. It is Low's merit in noticing this talent and nurturing it."

Even the injury to Michael Ballack in the build-up to the World Cup is now regarded as a blessing in disguise.

The man still regarded as the true Germany captain, even if Philipp Lahm is wearing the armband on the pitch, was a spectator in Cape Town, and the Suddeutsche suggests that is just fine.

"The injury to Ballack, however hard it is for him, was a lucky break for Low," it claimed.

"The 33-year-old was the last dominator who wanted to dictate the game as the leader and make the decisions. Without him, Low was able to give Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Mertesacker and Podolski more responsibility.

"Since these players are not such dominant, leading players but rather more keen on a harmonious atmosphere in which even the young players feel at home, a team full of power, energy and enjoyment was born."

Meanwhile, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper labelled Low's troops a "dream team".

"The footballing quality and the extra class of the national team coach make an almost unbelievable triumph possible," added the FAZ.

Finally, the Bild newspaper thanks its "heroes" who "the whole world is celebrating".

http://www.espnstar.com/home/news/detail/item462123/%27Dream-team%27-Germany-earn-plaudits/