A twenty year long wait finally came to
an end on July 13th when Philipp Lahm lifted the FIFA World Cup in
Brazil. Germany was ecstatic, relieved and looking forward to a future
of success. With the likes of Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, the
engines of the German side over the past decade, still having at least
four years in them it seemed unlikely that the Germans could be
unsettled from their perch.
But all the joy and ecstasy of their
triumph has now been overshadowed by the announcement of Lahm’s
retirement from international football. It may be true that Germany
won’t have much to worry about until EURO 2016 as qualification should
be a cakewalk but the loss of their captain, the heart of this glorious
German side, will be hard to deal with.
There isn’t an inkling doubt that this
team is headed in the right direction. The excessive talent in attack
will surely lead this team towards more glory but the void that has now
been left by their captain will be next to impossible to fill.
Schweinsteiger may take the captain’s armband from the gracious fullback
but the calmness and composure that comes with Philipp Lahm will be
irreplaceable.
There was also a utopian versatility
that Lahm possessed. Deployed as a right back, a left back and a central
midfielder over his career, the Bayern Munich star went about his job
with minimal fuss. He carried out his duties with an unnerving
efficiency.
Whether it was Schweinsteiger as a
winger on the left in 2006, Lukas Podolski on the left in 2008 and 2012,
young Thomas Müller on the right in 2010, or Toni Kroos, Bastian
Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira in the center of midfield in 2014, Lahm
had no difficulties when it came to adapting to his partners and forming
memorable partnerships. Never complaining about his constant movement
across the field over the years, Lahm grew into the most indispensible
player for Germany. As the team evolved over the past decade, so did
Lahm, in a manner that most others are incapable of.
The biggest problem for Germany is going
to be replacing Lahm the right back. Schweinsteiger should be able to
motivate and drive this team forward as captain, albeit in a manner
different from Lahm. The German midfield never truly needed Lahm and
shouldn’t face any troubles without him. Benedikt Höwedes, Marcel
Schmelzer and Erik Durm will hopefully manage to plug the holes that
they themselves create. But there is no real replacement on the right
side of defense. Shifting Höwedes to the right is an option but his lack
of attacking ability is a cause for worry. Also, there may be some
inertia with regards to shifting Höwedes after a commendable World Cup
campaign.
The other immediate option available is
Borussia Dortmund’s Kevin Großkreutz. A cult hero in Dortmund, the
25-year-old will surely be seen as a feasible replacement by the BVB
faithful but his experience as a full back is questionable. Good going
forward and possessing endless stamina, Großkreutz is in some ways like
Lahm. His versatility is another common feature with the departing
captain. At the moment, the Dortmund darling seems the best option but
the test of time will be his hardest test yet.
The lesser known trio of Tony Jantschke,
Sebastian Jung and Oliver Sorg are the other probable candidates for
the right back position. Jantschke has been a rock in the Borussia
Mönchengladbach defense over the past few years but his recent shift to
center back may not work in his favor. He is probably the most proven
amongst the three as well.
Jung and Sorg have both performed really
well for their respective clubs in the past two seasons but the lack of
consistency of their clubs doesn’t help them. The former’s recent move
to Wolfsburg, a side looking to make a mark in Europe, will be an
advantage in his bid to make it to the German national team.
All of these 24-year-olds have a good
chance of making it to the squad by the time Germany are ready for EURO
2016. They are all defensively sound, adept at going forward and have
that defensive experience that Großkreutz lacks. The battle for the
coveted spot will heat up as we get closer to EURO 2016 and the two club
campaigns that lie in store will be the time to shine for these German
hopefuls.
While there may be uncertainty regarding
Germany’s next right back, there is absolutely no doubt that there will
not be another Philipp Lahm. The intelligence, simplicity, quality and
versatility of Lahm are beyond the capabilities of most other
footballers. His leadership will be missed. His defensive abilities too.
Even his intent when going forward. The void left by Lahm’s departure
from the national team is immense.
The World Cup winning captain surely had
at least two more years in him. It’s a decision that will hurt German
football in the near future. But it has come with time on Germany’s
side. The repercussions of losing Lahm will be felt, but only over a
qualifying campaign through which German should have no serious
problems.
By retiring at this time, Lahm not only
leaves international football at the acme of success, but also allows
Germany time to figure things out. At worst, Germany may have a weakness
on the right side of defense when they go to France in a couple of
years. Thanks to Lahm’s timing, Germany will probably have a solution by
the time the world is ready for Russia 2018. Lahm has given Germany the
most important goodbye gift – time.
A servant for Germany over the past
decade and one even as he retires, there will never be another like
Philipp Lahm. The world has been blessed to watch this gem of a man
grace the football field. Luckily, we still get to watch him for Bayern
Munich. Thank you for a wonderful decade in the colours of Die
Nationalmannschaft!
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