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World Cup 2010: Who Can Replace Michael Ballack In Germany's Midfield?
Goal.com looks at the contenders for the captain's place in the team.
May 17, 2010 8:27:00 AM
By Peter Staunton
Michael Ballack is out of the 2010 World Cup. A disgraceful Kevin Prince Boateng tackle in the FA Cup final put an end to the veteran's ambition of appearing at a third finals and all but condemned him to international retirement, mired at 98 caps.
The pill is all the more bitter for Germans to swallow as Boateng has recently switched international allegiance to Ghana, the Nationalmannschaft's first opponents in this summer's tournament.
Ballack's ankle injury has thrown the Germany preparations for the tournament into temporary chaos. Already, the national press is filled with speculation on how trainer, Joachim Loew, will set about replacing his skipper.
There have been rumors of a change of system to better cope with Ballack's loss and also much conjecture on which player will inherit Germany's traditional 'number six' position.
Goal.com analyzes the credentials of some of the contenders for a starting berth in South Africa.
Sami KHEDIRA
Age 23
Club VfB Stuttgart
Caps 2
Castrol Ranking 241
At the moment, the critics' choice to replace Ballack is the 23-year-old from VfB Stuttgart. Khedira is a player of rare pedigree and excelled for Germany at under-age levels. He has found the transition to the senior team to be a difficult hurdle to overcome with the likes of Torsten Frings, Ballack and Simon Rolfes blocking his route. However, this difficulty could provide Khedira's opportunity. He is a good user of the ball who is not afraid to leave his foot in. Captained the under-21s to the European Championship last summer.
Toni KROOS
Age 20
Club Bayer Leverkusen (loan - returns to Bayern Munich July 2010)
Caps 2
Castrol Ranking 46
The Bayern Munich hot prospect is not a natural in the defensive midfield position but could be employed as a deep-lying playmaker alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger. That midfield combination would leave the Germans without a midfielder with a natural tendency to defend. However, were Germany to be in possession for large periods, they could rely on them to keep the ball and make things happen. With Kroos in the line-up, Germany would certainly move the ball quicker from back to front.
Christian TRAESCH
Age 22
Club VfB Stuttgart
Caps 2
Castrol Ranking 196
The emerging talent also plies his trade at VfB, a club of which Loew is a big admirer. His adaptability provided Christian Gross with options all across the back four and into midfield last season and he featured for the nationalelf in the last warm-up match; the charity fixture against Malta. The 22-year-old is still severely untested at international level though and is unlikely to be anything other than back-up in South Africa.
Heiko WESTERMANN
Age 26
Club Schalke 04
Caps 18
Castrol Ranking 190
The versatile Westermann is a defender by trade but is no stranger to the defensive midfield position. The former Arminia player has enjoyed a strong season with Schalke 04 and is a contender to start in defense for the Germans. However, Loew may opt for the 26-year-old in midfield instead, where he would provide physicality, if not the passing ability and influence of the deposed skipper.
Torsten FRINGS
Age 33
Club Werder Bremen
Caps 79
Castrol Ranking 368
There is a growing call for Frings to be restored to a squad that now lacks personality and leadership. After falling out with Joachim Loew, the Werder captain's international career looks to be all but over. However, the relationship between Loew and Kevin Kuranyi thawed out long enough even for them to have a chat. Frings' differences with the coach appear to run deeper though and there would be a lot of work to be done in order for the dominant midfielder to be recalled. However unlikely, the restoration of Frings could relegate the Ballack absence to a mere footnote, such is his ability and experience.
Are there any other contenders? Who is your choice to replace Michael Ballack in Germany's midfield? Leave your comments below...
For all the German news you can handle, check out Goal.com's Germany homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
The pill is all the more bitter for Germans to swallow as Boateng has recently switched international allegiance to Ghana, the Nationalmannschaft's first opponents in this summer's tournament.
Ballack's ankle injury has thrown the Germany preparations for the tournament into temporary chaos. Already, the national press is filled with speculation on how trainer, Joachim Loew, will set about replacing his skipper.
There have been rumors of a change of system to better cope with Ballack's loss and also much conjecture on which player will inherit Germany's traditional 'number six' position.
Goal.com analyzes the credentials of some of the contenders for a starting berth in South Africa.
Sami KHEDIRA Age 23
Club VfB Stuttgart
Caps 2
Castrol Ranking 241
At the moment, the critics' choice to replace Ballack is the 23-year-old from VfB Stuttgart. Khedira is a player of rare pedigree and excelled for Germany at under-age levels. He has found the transition to the senior team to be a difficult hurdle to overcome with the likes of Torsten Frings, Ballack and Simon Rolfes blocking his route. However, this difficulty could provide Khedira's opportunity. He is a good user of the ball who is not afraid to leave his foot in. Captained the under-21s to the European Championship last summer.
Toni KROOS Age 20
Club Bayer Leverkusen (loan - returns to Bayern Munich July 2010)
Caps 2
Castrol Ranking 46
The Bayern Munich hot prospect is not a natural in the defensive midfield position but could be employed as a deep-lying playmaker alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger. That midfield combination would leave the Germans without a midfielder with a natural tendency to defend. However, were Germany to be in possession for large periods, they could rely on them to keep the ball and make things happen. With Kroos in the line-up, Germany would certainly move the ball quicker from back to front.
Christian TRAESCHAge 22
Club VfB Stuttgart
Caps 2
Castrol Ranking 196
The emerging talent also plies his trade at VfB, a club of which Loew is a big admirer. His adaptability provided Christian Gross with options all across the back four and into midfield last season and he featured for the nationalelf in the last warm-up match; the charity fixture against Malta. The 22-year-old is still severely untested at international level though and is unlikely to be anything other than back-up in South Africa.
Heiko WESTERMANNAge 26
Club Schalke 04
Caps 18
Castrol Ranking 190
The versatile Westermann is a defender by trade but is no stranger to the defensive midfield position. The former Arminia player has enjoyed a strong season with Schalke 04 and is a contender to start in defense for the Germans. However, Loew may opt for the 26-year-old in midfield instead, where he would provide physicality, if not the passing ability and influence of the deposed skipper.
Torsten FRINGSAge 33
Club Werder Bremen
Caps 79
Castrol Ranking 368
There is a growing call for Frings to be restored to a squad that now lacks personality and leadership. After falling out with Joachim Loew, the Werder captain's international career looks to be all but over. However, the relationship between Loew and Kevin Kuranyi thawed out long enough even for them to have a chat. Frings' differences with the coach appear to run deeper though and there would be a lot of work to be done in order for the dominant midfielder to be recalled. However unlikely, the restoration of Frings could relegate the Ballack absence to a mere footnote, such is his ability and experience.
Are there any other contenders? Who is your choice to replace Michael Ballack in Germany's midfield? Leave your comments below...
For all the German news you can handle, check out Goal.com's Germany homepage and join Goal.com USA's Facebook fan page!
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