Philipp Lahm: Nothing but the World Cup will do for Germany

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  • No more heartache: Philipp Lahm was a World Cup semi-finalist in 2006 & 2010.

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    Losing Marco Reus, Ilkay Gundogan and Sven and Lars Bender to injury, head coach Joachim Low having his driving licence suspended for speeding and then a pre-tournament PR event for Mercedes in which two people were hit by a car – it is fair to say Germany’s World Cup preparations have not been ideal.

    When Reus collapsed in agony inside the centre circle at the Coface Arena in Mainz on Friday night – damaging ankle ligaments – it almost summed up the uncharacteristic chaos that had enveloped the squad. Things were not going according to plan.

    After qualifying in impressive fashion with nine wins from 10 matches, averaging more than three goals a game and with their strongest squad since the mid-1990s, doubts and uncertainity outside the German camp have instead started to creep in.

    Is their defence up to it? How can you go to a World Cup with one recognised striker? Will Bastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira’s brittle bodies last the course?

    But as Germany touch down in Brazil, captain Philipp Lahm is unequivocial in the strength of the German squad.

    “I don’t think there is a nation who can consider themselves better equipped to win the World Cup than Germany – or who can consider themselves bigger favourites than us,” he says. “We are a complete team – I don’t believe we have a weak position when we are all playing at the level we should.”

    Inner confidence and a forthright attitude are just two attributes that have personified German football throughout World Cup history. Always competitive, always in the mix.

    Die Mannschaft have won the competition three times – 1954, 1974 and 1990 – and have reached the semi-finals 12 times, more than any other nation, including Brazil.

    Three of those were in the last three World Cups. A largely unremarkable group of players made the final in Korea and Japan only to lose to Brazil. 

    Propelled by national fervour they reached the last four on home soil under Jurgen Klinsmann in 2006 only to bow out as Italy scored two goals at the end of extratime, and four years ago Low’s bright young things were the most entertaing side in South Africa only to succumb to a Carles Puyol header, again in a semi-final.

    Lahm has been a fixture in the team since 2004 and admits that while their record is something to be proud of, a repeat of past tournaments will simply not be good enough.

    “With our tradition at the World Cup the expectation is always going to be high from home. No German fan is going to be happy with semi-finals, and none of the players are going to be happy with semi-finals,” he adds.

    “The goal is to win the World Cup – not to go to Brazil for a holiday and just see how we get on. The aim is very clear, and we will only be pleased with one outcome.

    “It is absolutely fair that there is expectation on us – and we have a responsibility to win the World Cup for the German people.”

    As for those supposed flaws within the German team, Lahm is happy to concede they need to tighten up at the back.

    Whether at full-back or as a defensive midfielder, Lahm knows Germany must improve on a record of eight clean sheets in the last 20 games.

    Lahm first played in a World Cup back in 2006 when Germany reached the semi-finals. 

    When asked just what Germany will have to do to win a fourth World Cup, he says: “The two things that we must do are make sure we are playing as a team and that there are not any egos or individuals out there on the field – and we must stop conceding goals.

    “We have to keep our concentration to make sure that doesn’t happen. We have been giving our opponents a lot of chances – and with the quality of players in Brazil that is not something that we can afford to do.”

    But if Germany do concede, it means the other end of the pitch will be of greater importance. And while they were so prolific in qualifying, the fact Loew has picked just Miroslav Klose as his sole out-and-out striker has alarm bells ringing.

    The head coach, however, is expected to use the 36-year-old sparingly, and deploy either Mario Goetze, Thomas Muller or Mesut Ozil as a ‘false nine’, a system honed over the last 18 months.

    “It is interesting that people think we only have one out and out striker – then a player like Lukas (Podolski) has nearly 50 international goals,” he says. “Some of the best strikers that will be in Brazil won’t have close to 50 international goals – so no I don’t think our striker situation is a problem.”

    As for their group opponents, the quality of their defence is likely to be tested by their Group G opener against Portugal on Monday with Cristiano Ronaldo entering the World Cup following another season of stunning consistency in front of goal.

    That’s something Lahm has first-hand knowledge of having been in the Bayern Munich team obliterated by Real Madrid in the Champions League.

    “Crisitano Ronaldo has been devastating this season – some of his performances have been incredible," describes Lahm. “The first game against Portugal is so important. We don’t want to go into the games against USA and Ghana with unnecessary pressure on us because we didn’t get the right result in the opening game.”

    While Germany may play some beautiful free-flowing football in Brazil, Lahm’s attitude is very much the antithesis of South American football. He takes a professional and direct approach to why they are there.

    “You have to respect all Brazil stands for in football – but we have to be careful not to get caught up by any carnival atmosphere off the field. We are going to the World Cup to win it – and for that to happen there has to be full concentration. Not just in games, but in training, and in the way we rest. We have to have the right lifestyle for the competition.”

    It is a mindset that has served Germany so well in the past. However, perhaps it’s also fuelled by Lahm’s desire to finally grasp the one trophy that has eluded him in his career.

    “I have come close to winning a major title with Germany – but close is not good enough. It is so hard to go out in the semi-final of a World Cup – but the whole squad know that there is only one way to put that right.”

    German glory

    1954 West Germany 3 Hungary 2
    In a game known as ‘The Miracle of Bern’, the unfancied Germans beat Hungary’s Mighty Magyars to lift the trophy for the first time. Two down in eight minutes, Max Morlock and Helmut Rahn levelled matters before Rahn found an 84th minute winner.

    1974 West Germany 2 Netherlands 1
    The Germans lifted the trophy for a second time on home soil. Johan Neeskens’ penalty put the Oranje in front but Paul Breitner equalised, also from the spot, before who else but Gerd Muller struck the winner.

    1990 West Germany 1 Argentina 0
    The Germans had Italia ‘90’s best team and deserved to beat a dogged Argentina side. In a violent and underwhelming match, Andreas Brehme’s penalty saw off the nineman Argentines.

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