Realities of 2006

[Distant Voices]

Okay people-we are not going to win the World Cup in 2006.
Before you shoot me down-this is my opinion and I hope I am wrong but it is unfair on the players and on Klinsi to expect this.

I have a little feeling that once we play good football, have a nice ethnic German team and exit in brave style then the DFB and Der Kaiser will be happy.I don't think they honestly expect us to win.

Last week was another example of how we are lacking in world class players.For the third year running when it came to the knock out stages in both European competitions all the German teams except Bayern of course were beaten.And beaten quite well.

To win a world cup you need world class players.At least five or six players who all would be considered for a World X1.
We have none.
Posters correctly point out that France won the world cup with no world class forwards.Yet they had players like Thuram, Lizarazu and Desailly in defence, Zidane in midfield with Deschamps.

Potential world class players like Kahn or Ballack have gone backwards since 2002.We have no world class forwards or midfielders.And certainly no defenders.
Quality players like Huth, Friedrich and Mertesacker need to be playing Champions League football every week.Coming up against the best and learning from this.
Lahm is the nearest we have but let's be honest here he cannot be considered world class because he is right foot and he is playing left side.He cannot go down the left side completely before he has to come inside.

Nowotny will be out so it looks as if we will have to play Worns in the defence because he is the only experienced defender we have.
Kids like Huth and Mertesacker will be destroyed at the top level at this stage of their careers.Worns is a good player but nowhere near the top.
Hinkel, Owomeyala and Friedrich seem to be canidates for right defence.
Friedrich for me is class and the best here but again not experienced enough at the top level.

Lahm has little competition for the left.The young Pander as his reserve.
Midfield will see the ageing Schneider and possibly Hamann in contention.Deisler is unknown and despite his talent has not performed at the top.Ballack and Frings and Schweinsteiger will make up the midfield with possibly Borowski as reserve with the excellent Ernst-again unproven at the top.
Forwards-Kuranyi, Klose and Asamoah along with Podolski will compelte the squad.
Klinsi looks like sticking with Kahn and Lehmann which will be suicide.Kahn's reputation blinding everybody.

I am optmistic for the future of German football-we have good potential players but 2006 is way too early for them.Young teams do not win World Cups.

[Aequitas]

Well, but you host the WC and that is a mayor advantage.And remember,not always the best team wins.
But I agree, I don't see Germany as a team who can win it.

[TheNameOfTheG..]

Truth, Germany dont have stars, except Oli who is out of his form.
There is plenty of potencial - Lahm, Schweini, Poldi... but they are still not stars.
Even, not always stars wins. Remember Greece, they won at EC what is even more dificuilt then to win on WC because there is no many week teams.

[palmerq]

I think croatia will win the world cup(Dado Prso could eat everyone of his opposition).
Germany have a good chance of winning it, with Klinsman the team looks better and there is still time for the young lads to get better (and maybe deisler to overcome his madness).
Teams get a boost when hosting a competition so there is a chance, but not the biggest.

[ACBerb]

I think croatia will win the world cup

Sounds like a bit of a kiss-up to me palm. Next your gonna tell me Scotland and Canada are gonna have a go at it!

[TheNameOfTheG..]

I think croatia will win the world cup(Dado Prso could eat everyone of his opposition).

Of course we will :clap

[palmerq]

Next your gonna tell me Scotland and Canada are gonna have a go at it!I have not had enough hallucinagenic drugs to believe something like that :nono
Anyway watch it or I'll put a picture of your lingcod up. :cool

[Celticrugby]

I think croatia will win the world cup(
That would be excellent!

Anyways, Germany has a big advantage with the WC being in Germany. Not many thought Korea would get far, and look what they did.

[Aequitas]

Anyways, Germany has a big advantage with the WC being in Germany. Not many thought Korea would get far, and look what they did.

mmm..surrounded by controversy more than merits.

[Der Bomber]

Yeah with refs like Hoyzer in 02 Germany could have won.

Since Germany is already in the ref bribing scandel, they should just do it in 06, like the Koreans did in 02.

I think Germany will be in the final....But then again I also think Scotland will be the other team fighting it out for the world cup....Optimism is for losers....Realism is my cup of chemicaly enhanced tea.

[ACBerb]

watch it or I'll put a picture of your lingcod up. :cool

Na, nobody will beleive how big it is! Wink,Wink :cool Anyways Bomber will hang a Bayern Jersey on it anyway! :drinkbeer

[Coldplay]

Great talents like Hunt, Trochowski, Brenzka may surprised us.

Also Metzelder, Lauth may be back to the team...........we still have the hope

I disagree that Lahm is bad as a LB just becoz he is a right foot player. IMO, he is one of the best LB in the world and being underated badly

[Faram|R]

Don't judge any teams by their age,height,star player etc...yes we need a world class player,good physical,fresh energetic young player in order to give a best performance but we should know that FIGHTING SPIRIT and maybe some LUCK is also important. The German team that reach the World Cup 2002 final have these criteria(Germany are down to 10 men after Ramelow was red-carded in the match against Cameroon and German is the luckiest team in tournament having not face any world class team until the Brazil match..) And Germany only have two world class player at World Cup 02- Oli and Micheal Ballack.Well,I'm not saying that Germany will win the World Cup 06 but as a Germany fan, I always hope that they can achieve something... I'm only 11 years old when Klinsmann and co. lift the Euro 96 trophy, the last major trophy the German win.Hopefully I dont have to wait any much longer to see them triumph again!!!!

[DeutscheBong]

We may not win, but you have to advance pretty far when you're the home team.

[Distant Voices]

okay let's recap

the 2006 squad-23 places

(injury and form depending of course):
Kahn, Lehmann, Hildebrand
Mertesacker, Friedrich, Worns, Lahm, Huth, Owemoyela, Hinkel, Pander
Ballack,Frings,Schneider,Deisler, Schweinsteiger, Borowski,Ernst

Klose, Kuranyi, Asamoah, Hanke, Podolski

That is a very young and inexperienced squad.
The door for Hamann and Neuville are still open.

I think we need an experienced centre defender-what about Babbel ?

I'm not too happy with Lehmann.Much rather Rost- Klinsi is going to look stupid if Schalke win the Bundesliga and no place for Rost.

Others in the eye who could take a place if they produce outstanding form between now and 2006:

Wiese, Enke
Baumann, Callsen-Bracker, Madlung, Kleinbeil, Fahrenhorst, Baumann, Volz, Schulz
Engelhardt, Hitzlsperger, Lauth and Freier who must be very close.
Anybody else ?
Kauf ? Meissner ?

I still have long term hope for Gorlitz and Rau.

Hinkel if he can return to his top form will start in the team.
45 players-I wonder can England come up with 45 players.
Centre defence is a big worry for me.

[Ballack13]

The possibility of Lehmann being in the WC squad is an absolute joke! I swear he averages an error every two games it seems. Playing with him goal is taking a huge risk. How can guys like Rost, Hildebrand, Enke be ignored for this chump?

As for central defense, we really need Metzelder back but lets be honest, that is not very likely. Mertesacker should be a starter by then. Maybe Huth or Friedrich beside him, even Madlung could be a possibility. Woerns has no business here. Way too slow for international level, he will get roasted on the counter attack. I prefer Babbel, at least he still has pace and is more athletic. He has a lot of experience as well and nice technique. Another option is Kehl, what happened to this guy? He was going to be the next Beckenbauer.

I too hope Gorlitz recovers in time as he is a very talented player.

You guys will probably laugh at me but I still want Bierofka on the team as long as he can get back into the Leverkusen team. He brings something that is lacking, excellent dribbling and a lot of pace. Bring this guy into the game in late second half and he can cause a lot of problems.

At forward, Hunt should definitely be considered, the guy looks like a complete package.

[Gerry_BMG]

Yeah, well I dont think the team is that young considering the possible best eleven. OK, the defense is very young but otherwise we just have Kuranyi and possibly Schweinsteiger as the youngest player(s). Deisler, Ballack, Frings, Schneider for midfield. Deisler with 26. Klose and Kuranyi.
I dont see a problem that there are many young players in the squad. Young players get euphoric more easily and this could be very helpful for 2006. We need a "basic bunch" of experienced players in the line-up. Kahn, Ballack, Frings, Klose. We maybe lack an experienced defender. Although Wörns plays decently and not bad as some see him, I dont think he is the kind of player with whom we might have a shot for the title. But looks like he is the only experience option left if Metzelder wont make it.
The most important part will be the opening game for us. Do we win and win in a way that will make people feel we could do well? If we perform shite in the first game, I dont see us win ****.

[Distant Voices]

Y'know I completely forgot about Metzelder !
Yes-him and who knows if he has a good season next year who knows ?
I also forgot about Kehl but for me he is still way too inconsistent for me and Al the Drummer is right-he looked like an outstanding libero at Freiburg-now jsut a midfield horse (started by Sammer of all people).
I also forgot Brdaric-but I don't think he will be chosen.

Anyway Babbel has been called up today so hopefully he can recreate his previous international from.
Still 50 players to chose from-!

Hunt for me does not score enough goals either for Bremen or the amateurs so not the complete package.

[Distant Voices]

Lauth has played six games-113 mins in total and has scored three goals.
He really needs to get fit long term.
Two players who have gone backwards-Preuss and Broich.

[BanRay]

Greece proved that even a team without any or with very few class can succeed in such a short tournamnet. No matter whether we like it or not, luck is going to play a very big part.

[ACBerb]

How is Metzelder doing lately? I haven't seen a Dortmund game for a while now. He is back with the first team isn't he?

[Coldplay]

okay let's recap

the 2006 squad-23 places

(injury and form depending of course):
Kahn, Lehmann, Hildebrand
Mertesacker, Friedrich, Worns, Lahm, Huth, Owemoyela, Hinkel, Pander
Ballack,Frings,Schneider,Deisler, Schweinsteiger, Borowski,Ernst

Klose, Kuranyi, Asamoah, Hanke, Podolski

That is a very young and inexperienced squad.
The door for Hamann and Neuville are still open.

I think we need an experienced centre defender-what about Babbel ?

I'm not too happy with Lehmann.Much rather Rost- Klinsi is going to look stupid if Schalke win the Bundesliga and no place for Rost.

Others in the eye who could take a place if they produce outstanding form between now and 2006:

Wiese, Enke
Baumann, Callsen-Bracker, Madlung, Kleinbeil, Fahrenhorst, Baumann, Volz, Schulz
Engelhardt, Hitzlsperger, Lauth and Freier who must be very close.
Anybody else ?
Kauf ? Meissner ?

I still have long term hope for Gorlitz and Rau.

Hinkel if he can return to his top form will start in the team.
45 players-I wonder can England come up with 45 players.
Centre defence is a big worry for me.



Apart from Metzelder, Kehl, Broich and Hunt; seems like you have forgotten Hilbert, AZAOUAGH, Odonkor and Soren Halfar, this makes a total of 53 options
in potential WM squad list...........Scholl may not be there but i still hope Trochowski can develop into a real talent in Stuttgart next season. But first, both Scholl and Trochowski must have more match practice and prove that they are fit enough

[Distant Voices]

Trochowski is with Hamburg.
Azaough is injured all the time.
Odonkor is only reserve at Dortmund.
Hilbert and Halfar-not yet.

[elmubarak]

ome on still more time left. of course we could win the whole cup; we're even the favorites. other team hasnt qualified yet

[elmubarak]

come on still more time left. of course we could win the whole cup; we're even the favorites. other team hasnt qualified yet

[scorpion2a]

My expectations for Germany 2006 ain't that high. However I think Germany can collect a team that might compete. Prominent German players, who can impose their pace on other teams, are available. The Euro2004 failure shouldn't frustrate us that much. Neither should the lack of quality strikers. Our hope will be represented in the skilled and experienced likes of Ballack, Kahn, Frings, Schneider, Metzeleder, Klose.
German youngsters will surely play a large role in this tournament, even if we fail to reach the final stages. Mertesacker, Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Podolsi & Kuranyi. Who knows, may be WC2006 might be the break through of one of those guys who might be the next German NT captain leading the German squad to 2010. Just as WC2002 was the shine of Klose, Ballack, Frings & Schneider, WC2006 will see the emergence of another German talent. I look at it that way.
I prefer if Germany leave the tournament early and give the same impression Brazil gave in 1982 rather than win the cup and present a lackluster performance like Brazil 1994.
Cheer up, Germany will prove something. The unexperienced Klinsmann has something to prove.

[Distant Voices]

If Frings, Ballack, Deisler, Kahn, Lahm, Kuranyi and Metzelder were in world class form then we can win it.
Big IF though.

Kahn
Friedrich Mertesacker Metzelder Lahm
Deisler Frings Ballack Schweinsteiger
Kuranyi Asamoah/Klose

Six Bayern players-maybe seven if they sign Per Metersacker.

[Al_the drummer]

I agree, as the team stands now they will not be world champions come July 2006, sure that doesn't take genius to work out.

I'd also like to point at that the comparison to France in 1998 is misguided because yes they didn't have any goalscoring strikers BUT it was a team packed with leadership and experience, Deschamps, Desially, Zidane, Blanc, Barthez etc and any team with those players can win games and score goals from a variety of positions.

I think now Klinsmann would have an ideal starting XI in his mind and unless talented hopefuls like Azoagah, Broich, Fritz, Trochowski(gasp), Hunt, Hilbert, Odonkor and all the rest absolutely set the world alight with consistent outstanding performances in Bundesliga 1 they can count themselves out of 2006. That's the reality.

France 98 was all about Zinadine Zidane and I put it that Germany needs a Zidane figure in offensive midfield to have any hope of a decent world cup, cue voracious laughter. I see the hopes of a nation hang on the sholdiers of one man and that man is Sebastian Deisler, IF he can realise his god-given potential, IF can stay fit and injury free and IF he can remain in a consistent psychological state to be playing good consistent football for Bayern from now till May 2006 then we could be in business.

Starting at the top I still see Oliver Kahn as the solid, dependable, rugged leader he always was and I can't for the life of me fathom how Jens Lehaman can be categorised in Kahn's league looking at his form in an Arsenal jersey. I have total faith in Oli and also in the kid Hildebrand whom will follow Kahn after his retirement to go onto very big things I guarantee.

With a bit of luck the defence could be an uncompromising solid unit, Freidrich, Metzelder and Mertesacker is a truly wonderful prospect for the back-line, I also have a natural faith in the German defensive unit when the heat is on in a world cup scenario the natural Germany trait of organisation and cool under pressure takes over no matter who starts.

I also see some very promising wide options with young right hopefuls Hinkel and Gorlitz and lefty's Pander and the world class Phillip Lahm raiding the flanks, this is a big strength of this German side and they must keep those crosses fizzing across the opposing box as is also a German tradition.

In Central midfield Germany are nothing short of colossal, I disagree the Ballack is in decline and I was in absolute awe at his superb performances against Arsenal over-shadowing Patrick Viera with wonderful distribution, tough-tackling and some very nice forward runs, the complete midfield package. Torsten Frings is another solid, experienced campaigner who seldom lets us down and then there is my personal favourite in defensive midfield Tim Borowski who's arial ability and ball winning in the middle of the park could see him become one of the top players in the world in his position, I kid you not.

So far so good right....

Offensive midfield is a place that has let is down in the last few campaigns, putting Frings or Ballack here doesn't wash with me and so we need a born offensive midfielder who can run, dribble and above all create. Long term I still see the diminutive Piotr Trochowski fill this birth but I'll eat my hat if he's in the running for 2006, Bastian Schweinsteiger is a hot prospect but still a little awkward and so it comes down to the big hope Deisler to pull the strings. Possibly also Benny Lauth can play here as a direct, pacy dribbler which would be very nice to see but it is the proclamation of Germanys prodigal son we all want to see, our hopes rest with Diesler.

Lukas Podolski needs no introduction as the current top striker in Germany and he now MUST be a certain starter in Klinsmann's team, nobody else has his exuberance, confident swagger and above all ability in front of goal like Podolski. I say fuk his age, his talent speaks for itself and he's proven his class to me by sticking it out with Koln in Bundesliga 2 and scoring goals in a down n dirty league that tackles hard, a real sign of class which has befouled many potential forwards in the past. His partner ideally is Benny Lauth or Kevin Kuranyi to support him with Klose and Asamoha waiting in the wings on the bench. If Kuranyi can be the tireless and effective support forward play holding the ball with good technique like he can and then just lay it off to Podolski to smash it home we could be on to a winner.

Like I said it's all one big IF.

[Gerry_BMG]

Al, I missed your great postings. And this one was one of the best. Others, just post to try to be funny, especially in the Bayern forum, but this is a football forum goddamit. I appreciate humor and fun, but goddammit if you dont know **** about football stay the **** away.

Well Al, I am with you on most points except the Borowski takling thing. He is more a Effenberg type, a leader and playmaker than a dm with hard working and tackling skills. I prefer Ernst or Frings as dm. If Frings and Ballack get to realise how they can play together with one being dm and one the om and a great central defender turns up (Metzelder) we have a nice skeleton for the team. Kahn-the cd (Metzelder)-Frings-Ballack-Klose/Kuranyi/Podolski
But Al, you refer to France to take an example on, but why dont we set a new example for other teams to come? Greece won the Euro so why the heck we dont win WC2006? Of course we need a good tactition (is Klinsmann/Löw one?) and/or players who are on a run/hype........

But as you said the big hope got to be Deisler. Maybe thats the big struggle of this german generation to await Deisler upcommance (is that sensemaking? :ninja) I hope that Trochowski will come back soon but as you said its very unlikely he will play in 2006. He surely had the potential but **** it.

I surely see a big, big future for Germany, 2006 might come 2-3 year early tho...

[Faram|R]

The future is bright for Germany. Maybe 2006 is too early for the new generation(Lahm,Podolski,Kuranyi,Mertesacker..) .. who knows what will happen in World Cup 2010? Or maybe Euro 2008? But like Gerry said, if Greece can win the Euro 2004 then why not Germany win the World Cup 2006?

[Al_the drummer]

Thanks Gerry, I know what u mean, some people just like to piss about when the real business is swept aside.

We should really be talking like 2006 is THE chance for Germany, it's in the Fatherland and sucess is in the grasp, somebody slip some seroxat(banned anti-depressant) into Sebs's morning coffe and we'll win the whole thing and Brazil will wish they never got on the ****king plane!