Debate over German captaincy erupts
While it looks like no opponent can stop Germany on the soccer pitch in its quest to win the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the team might be facing some serious internal divisions after current captain Philipp Lahm said he had no intention of returning his captain’s armband to injured former captain Michael Ballack upon his return.
“"The captain's role has brought me a lot of pleasure. It's a real joy. Why would I want to give it back?" said Lahm, speaking to the German-language publication Bild.
Lahm has plenty of international experience with 70 caps, with two more to come at the 2010 World Cup. At only 26, he’s seven years the junior of Ballack, but he was open about his desire to stay skipper of the team that finished third in 2006 and is currently in the semi-finals, where they can’t do any worse than fourth.
"I'd love to keep the armband, I want more responsibilities. But we will see what happens," Lahm continued.
The comments were only published Tuesday in the Bild and immediately was seized by foreign journalists in South Africa, who questioned team manager Oliver Bierhoff about what the thought of the comments.
No disharmony, but timing unfortunate
“It has been discussed in the team council: Michael Ballack is still the captain—and Philipp is now our World Cup captain,” said Bierhoff, attempting to put the controversy to rest. When asked about what he thought of the timing of the issue, he seemed to express disappointment in Lahm, calling it “not so fortunate.”
“Any discussion is unnecessary...In the end, this is an issue that cannot be addressed this week. Now we have to focus on completing the final two games successfully. Everything else comes thereafter and in the end is a decision of the coach.”
Lahm’s comments didn’t specifically target Ballack and he may have just been saying he enjoyed leading the team and considered the responsibility an honour. But it was still enough in the media frenzy of the World Cup to create an issue where there almost would never have been one. Ballack has been a successful German captain since 2004, leading his team to both the 2006 World Cup semi-finals on home soil and to the finals of the 2008 Euro Cup, although each time the team has failed to win.
Until Ballack injured his ankle, announcing he would miss the tournament on May 17, his captaincy would never have been in question. He even flew down to watch Germany through the quarterfinals, though he departed on Monday, prompting further questions about whether he might have gotten wind of Lahm’s comments before they were published.
"It is an unfortunate coincidence that Ballack's departure and Lahm's statement coincided," said Bierhoff, but said Ballack had simply returned to Europe to have work done on his ankle.
Debate over Ballack’s return
"I am not the one who should answer the question with a yes or a no,” said Lahm when he was asked whether the German team still needed Ballack. At 33 years old, Ballack is unlikely to lead them for much longer on the international stage, particularly given the story of success that has emerged with their young core of players dominating Australia, England and Argentina on the way to the semi-finals.
Various figures on each side have opined on whether Ballack should step down as leader of the squad given his advancing age and the success of the team without him. Former German captain Lothar Matthaeus suggested he step down, telling Bild: “'If Michael were to say now: 'The team is strong without me as well, I am stepping down and concentrating on Leverkusen, then he would prove his stature,' Matthaeus told Bild.
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