Reaction: Germany World Cup squad announced
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by Bobo
At any time in any competition, Germany are one of the hardest teams not to support. They have won three World Cups now, and with head coach Jurgen Klinsmann at the helm, they are likely to continue their excellent record in this competition, despite finishing in the European Championships twice in a row in the first round. This, in the biggest Cup competition of them all, is something they primarily don't deserve, and secondarily they're extremely unlikely to do with the squad they're bestowed with.
All this is notwithstanding the fact that this game is taking place on home turf, and with the winners of the competition so often coming from the country where the most home supporters are more likely to visit the games, and lend their personal support, this may happen once more. Another final with Brazil may be on the cards, just like the final four years ago.
Main goalkeeper is Jens Lehmann. After joining Dortmund, he won a German league title and the following year was off to Arsenal. The main goalkeeper during Arsenal's undefeated season of 2003/04 could pull off a few shocks in this tournament, not so much with the teams he helps the guys dispatch, but with the dominant manner in which this is pulled off.
At the top of the defence lies Marcell Jansen. With a mere two years of Bundesliga action under his belt, the left-back position could easily fall to him. He made his debut last year in a friendly against Slovakia and looks as though he could surprise if he is given a fair shot in the tournament.
Arne Friedrich has been with home team Hertha Berlin and is a frightening presence both in the heart of defence or on the right-hand side. Youth on his side, he was first noticed with second-division Arminia Bielefield before being placed in the national squad in 2002, immediately after joining his current team. He made his debut for the Germans after only two full appearances for his club team, which still counts as a country record for a top-tier team.
Robert Huth is one of the mainstays of the Chelsea defence. He officially signed for Chelsea in 2000 but saw no first-team action until two years later. He played in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship and in the 2005 Confederations Cup he was one of only two players to play every minute of every match for the German team.
Sebastian Kehl's career took off immediately after joining Freiburg from second division Hannover. And when Borussia loomed, there was no chance he wasn't going to make it into the 2002 squad. This, his second World Cup, comes after a dip in form in 2003/04 was recovered two seasons later, just in time for selection.
Jens Nowotny, whose career was written off by some in February of last year after a damning cruciate ligament injury, earned praise and a callup from his national coach after having a good second half to this football season. This 32-year-old should bring stability to his side's defence, as he is looking to make his mark having been too injured to play during the 1998 and 2002 finals.
Bastian Schweinsteiger currently plays for top team Bayern Munich, and has scored seven international goals since first appearing for the national team against Hungary in 2004. His vibrance and skill left him to graduate from his youth team to Bayern Munich's first team within eighteen months, and this left him to make an immediate Champions League impact.
Torsten Frings' national debut came in February of 2001, and immediately after the game he went home and was approached by local schoolchildren and asked to teach them how to play the game. This spirit of giving is contrary to his sometimes changeable moods, however, with his turns of speed evident on the pitch, he is one of the most consistent tacklers of any country's national team, having been seen to possess that quality in 2002.
Mike Hanke, currently of Wolfsburg, made his international debut in 2005, and a few games later opened his account in international football 50 seconds after coming on as a substitute against Tunisia. Having previously been a player at Schalke, he gained a reputation of being one of the best substitutes the team has ever had, and still upholds this reputation today.
Small, but devilishly quick, Oliver Neuville brings presence and experience to a national side for whom he played in 1999 and 2005 at the Confederations Cup, and in 2002 at the World Cup. His lack of scoring is something for which he compensates for with his expert tactical eye.
Miroslav Klose came from nowhere during the 2002 World Cup to score a hat trick against a poor Saudi Arabian side four years ago. The Polish-born striker moved to Germany when he was nine, and his father, Josef, who played for France, begged him to get into football. His trademark goal celebration has been nicknamed the "Salto-Klose", and it would be a pity not to see this amazing piece of gymnastics once again.
Second goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was to become the first goalkeeper in a World Cup finals to ever win the accolade for the best player at the World Cup tournament, despite Ronaldo walking away with the golden boot. His only mistake during the tournament was a temporary lapse which saw the Brazilians go 1-0 in front to Ronaldo's super goal. It will take something special to beat Kahn this year, and, as he now is 36, the man is now probably participating in his last World Cup tournament.
Most surprisingly, Michael Ballack has never had any sort of career outside Germany, despite being one of the most classy players within his Bayern squad. But with his main motto of not taking things in life too seriously, after seeing his side Bayern win the domestic league and cup double, this philosophy might once and for all be put to the test.
Gerald Asamoah, having been born in Ghana, decided to move to Germany at an early age, where he decided his national aspirations lie. He made three appearances in 2002 World Cup matches, including thirteen minutes in the final as a substitute.
Thomas Hitzlsperger, who recently moved from Aston Villa back home to VfB Stuttgart, was previously a member of the 1999 U-17 World Championship squad, before making his full debut in 2004. After four long years working in England, he returned gladly to Germany before being selected for this World Cup.
Philipp Lahm played his early football with top German team Bayern Munich as he cut his teeth amongst some of the most elite central defenders within Germany's ranks. And, despite a cruciate ligament injury nearly costing him his career, he is back and in working order once again.
Per Martesacker, of Hanover 96, made his international debut against Iran in October 2004, having caught Jurgen Klinsmann's eye during matches for his domestic side. He helped his side in the 2005 Confederations Cup, as one of only two players to play every minute of the tournament.
Tim Borowski helped Werder Bremen to the league title in 2004, and in the same year he led his team to a 3-2 win against Alemannia Aachen in the German cup final. Having made his senior debut in 2002, he played one match in the 2005 Confederations Cup while still maturing in several friendlies.
Midfielder Bernd Schneider has played 64 times for his country and scored just once, but the young man, dubbed the "White Brazilian", is still one of the best all-rounders in the German team. He now plays for Leverkusen and personally believes he can help Germany to a first place in this year's World Cup.
Powerful forward Lukas Podolski, with his great speed and vision, made his international debut at the age of just 19 years old. He is a part of the FC Cologne youth academy, where he has been nurtured into a super young striker, and, having remained loyal to the club during the early days, still remained so after the team were relegated, and scored 24 goals to help restore Bundesliga status to the team.
Christoph Metzelder plays for Borussia Dortmund, having played most notably for Schalke's youth team, and was called up for the German squad in only his second professional season with the club. An Achilles injury put his chances on hold during 2003, but once again his skill has shone through and he is able to represent the German side nationally.
Half Ghanaian and half German, 'David Odonkor joined Borussia Dortmund as a 13 year old, and signed professional papers as soon as possible before making his debut at the age of 18. Now, four years later, he is searching for only his second international appearance, having had Jurgen Klinsmann's faith put in him for this tournament.
Third goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand is widely touted to replace the slowly ageing Lehmann and Khan, and in 2003, the young man set a Bundesliga record of 884 minutes in goal without conceding. He has previously represented Germany in the FIFA World Championship, earned his first international cap in April 2004, in a 5-1 defeat against Romania.
Germany's squad looks as strong as ever, and the shocking thing is, that not only does their first team look strong, but whatever second team they decide to put out also looks as though it could perform at a decent standard.
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