Schweinsteiger 'the logical successor' to Lahm, says Beckenbauer

[yamair.livejournal.com]

The former defender believes the Bayern midfielder is the clear candidate to take up the armband for the national team over team-mate Manuel Neuer or Dortmund's Mats Hummels.

Bastian Schweinsteiger is "the logical successor" to Philipp Lahm as Germany captain, according to iconic former defender Franz Beckenbauer.

Lahm opted to retire from international football after leading his side to World Cup glory in Brazil this summer, having first taken up the armband for the finals in 2010.

Schweinsteiger was vice-captain to his Bayern Munich team-mate in Brazil and Beckenbauer believes the 30-year-old is the obvious choice to take up the armband.

"Schweinsteiger for me is the logical successor to Philipp Lahm," he told Bild. "He's a leader, he won a lot of sympathy for his incredible versatility in the World Cup final.

"The whole team is raised by such a fighter. And, as deputy to Lahm, he knows the captain's role already."

Beckenbauer feels Mats Hummels would be the ideal deputy to Schweinsteiger, while he claims Manuel Neuer would not be the correct choice given his position on the pitch.

"[Hummels] should be vice-captain to Schweinsteiger. Neuer is a great personality, but a coach prefers an outfield player as they can better influence the action," he added.



He's been in Ibiza for the past few days, looking very hot.





How could he possibly be denied?

I've just seen that the all star game is on at around 2am! I'm going to have to give that a miss, probably download it the next day.

Source

What were the previous objections to Basti being captain? I've read that he was considered "too emotional" and stuff about not being the right type.

Comments

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

I think Khedira is the logical successor, thanks.

Bastian does things that are foolish, sometimes. He's a spiritual leader, but sometimes...boy fucks up. Take the BVB singing. Sami would never do that. Actually, it's inconceivable he would.

That Beckenbauer doesn't even mention Sami is...surprisingly and disappointingly not surprising :/ I consider him a perfect fit. He's basically Lahm, only taller. They talk well. They are respectful. They are leaders in the dressing room.

Hummels is...not the brightest, though I adore him. Neuer...okay maybe.

[yamair.livejournal.com]

That's a fair point about the BVB thing. I don't think it was a big deal overall, but with all the comments about Basti having outgrown Poldi, it sometimes irks me that he's complimented at Lukas' expense. That video kinda shows that you know, there's some poor judgement there.

I've thought Boateng could be in line, but I'm not sure about his standing in the team or if it's something he'd even want. He seems a bit quiet and maybe he's too young right now. If it's going to be someone from the middle onwards, Sami is definitely a contender. I can see him enjoying the responsibility. You're right, he'd be a fitting successor to Lahm.

I haven't seen him mentioned anywhere though. I do think Basti is a bit of darling right now, and will probably get it. The fangirl in me is more than a little okay with that. But the "too emotional" comment did come from Jogi, so who knows.

[aquaecolore.livejournal.com]

I read the book about Robert Enke's life/death recently and it brought up a point about how German players who play for clubs outside of Germany have a tendency to be forgotten about (in terms of being chosen for the NT, not the case too much these days, as Sami/Mesut/Podolski/Mertesacker etc. show)

I don't know why but i think that might be a factor with Beckenbauer not mentioning Sami for the captaincy here.

[lokrur.livejournal.com]

Beckenbauer is very fond of Hummels and has in the past said that he sees him as the future captain of the national team. Jogi might have different ideas.

I think it'll be very hard not to pick Basti and from my (viewer) point of view I think he'd be a good captain. He can be reckless but he's very sympathetic. That being said I don't know if he's a leader in the dressing room and how the team dynamics would be with him in charge. And sadly I've started to wonder whether he'll be fit to play in two years time.

I have to admit that I have never thought of Khedira as a possible candidate, but it was the same story with Lahm, I was rather surprised when he became captain. The more I think about it the better I like the idea.

[blackjedii.livejournal.com]

THERE IS NO OTHER LAHM MY FRIEND. NONE.

But Khedira is very sharp-minded. I am not so sure about Hummels either; AFAIK he hasn't been a leader before? And while he seems to have a lot of self-confidence, he also is rather... tactless? Not in a bad way, mind.

Neuer would do all-right-ish but I find myself thinking he's not missing captaining Schalke at all. And Howedes as much as I adore him wouldn't want the pressure. If you asked him to be captain he'd do it graciously but I think he has his hands full with his club.

Per wouldn't be a bad choice per se but he's not a guaranteed starting XI anymore. Which from the old guard leaves... Podolski.

[daceymormont.livejournal.com]

hummels is not the brightest, really? i always thought he sounds smart lol

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

To answer the question at the bottom that I missed:

Schweini talks with a regional accent, does silly crap when a little drunk, and can be a little immature about rivalries in a way Lahm never was (Lahm did not speak with a particularly strong accent, is always ridiculously sober and is a conciliator.) The accent bit may sound funny to bring up - but Lahm is so frigging presentable and boy-next-door in interviews it's almost funny.

Apparently, in 2012, Schweini and some of the BVB players were not demonstrating that famous teamgeist that the team normally has. Club tension spilled into the dressing room. Historically, for Germany, that is unacceptable.

Hummels was another culprit, supposedly. (I hope I'm remembering that right.)

The Madrilenos at the time (Sami, Mesut) were especially good at getting on with everyone, which is just another reason to make Sami captain.

[yamair.livejournal.com]

This is so interesting to me. I couldn't tell that Basti has an accent, but it obviously must be Bavarian. Right?

What was that incident where he needed earphones to understand a press conference? I've read some disparaging comments about that and his ability to understand things. lol This is why I'm curious about how he's perceived in Germany. Because of course, fangirling for him from the outside is a different thing.

[blackjedii.livejournal.com]

Apparently, in 2012, Schweini and some of the BVB players were not demonstrating that famous teamgeist that the team normally has. Club tension spilled into the dressing room. Historically, for Germany, that is unacceptable.

Is that what happened? I thought it was rather hush-hush but oh yes. No one looked happy with each other there. With Gomez looking the most out of place for whatever reason. I definitely remember Hummels being exceedingly un-Teamgeistish but I didn't know who the Bayern "culprit" was supposed to be.

Or maybe that was just me.

[ladyseraph-756.livejournal.com]

The regional accent, is that really a dealbreaker? I'm trying to come up with a equivalent I can relate to as otherwise it sounds like a strange reason to discount someone from the captaincy?

Is it like having a strong Brummie accent, or Scouse accent or something? That confused me a bit.

[rare-lj.livejournal.com]

Bastian should be captain because he's flawless. I need to photoshop a captain armband on that shirtless picture for reasons.

[rare-lj.livejournal.com]

Oh and Sami should be captain after Basti retires which'll be sooner than I'd like

[blackjedii.livejournal.com]

Mm - he is a bit emotional on the pitch which could shake his focus. Granted I'd call Ballack emotional too but I don't think Schweinsteiger would lose his cool that way (altho I question him yelling @ Ozil about not finishing a strike when we were freaking seven up against Brazil)
But mostly? He is injured. A lot. He was injured in the Euros and really shouldn't have been fielded after Greece and it was only against France that he started being strong enough to play in this WC. This isn't just bad luck - he's had the same problem for the past several years really. Klose's had better luck with staying fit than Bastian and that's not a good sign.

And finally - as much as I like him, he is 30. For a midfielder, even a defensive one you are looking at mid-30s and that is entirely dependent on if you've got strong competition or not. We can live without Schweinsteiger and can do so... all right ish. We could not do without Lahm.

I vote for Khedira too. Unconventional I think but solid material. But the thing with Germany is that since Lahm we have not had a "core" leader and have instead fielded many people with many positions of responsibility. No more Alpha Males, tyvm.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

That's the thing. I love Schweini. I'm mad about that boy.

But I don't want an alpha male either. And he kinda is one...

[yamair.livejournal.com]

No more Alpha Males, tyvm.

This is such a good point. England could do with moving away from such Alpha males. It makes me consider the possibilities differently.

[deadstine-43.livejournal.com]

Honestly breaks my heart whenever I read about Lahm's successor. Not ready to let him go just yet </3 But ~the show must go on~ etc.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

OMG your icon is frigging unreal.

*licks screen*

[the4thjuliek.livejournal.com]

I swear your icon is making me tingly all over.

Mats is my Sleeping Beauty (I know!)/Cinderella prince. And Prince Arne will always be my Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs prince.

OT but

[deadstine-43.livejournal.com]

what is the general opinion regarding Jogi as a coach in the press or amongst Mannschaft fans in general? It seems that despite winning the WC, pundits/commentators dont rank him very highly as a coach (though i could be wrong)

Re: OT but

[lokrur.livejournal.com]

He has done well, but I feel that it's time for renewal. I criticized him a lot during the first games in the WC for playing without fullbacks and strikers, and playing too many players out of position. It seemed to me that once he changed the tactic back "to normal" everything went better. He seemed to be trying to design the play around the players he wants on the field instead of first designing the tactic and then pick players that can carry it out.

But it's weird criticizing him after they won the cup and are ranked number one on the FIFA-list, because apparently this did work. And there were also a lot of injuries.

[ladyseraph-756.livejournal.com]

This is all really interesting from a outsider's point of view. Not really sure how valid my tuppence worth is but here goes

I think Neuer would be an option, but I think that a captain really does ideally need to be foot-mobile. I know Peter Shilton used to captain England if I remember rightly as GK, but from a practical viewpoint maybe it's not ideal. Plus the fact that does he really want that with his extended GK duties? Aren't England mentioning Joe Hart as a possible next captain?

Khedira, you know that would be an option and it's interesting that he's under radar in the race for the new captain. Perhaps as some of you have said it's a case of 'out of sight, out of mind' which is a shame if it's an ambition of his.

Hummels I think will get V-C and then take over in a couple of years

Comparing Sami to Schweini, I think the latter has probably managed to position himself as the logical natural successor in a way Sami hasn't as yet? I kind of get the feeling that it would be a surprise if he didn't get it after being Vice-Captain and playing such a prominent role during the tournament. I suspect a few feathers might be ruffled, perhaps?

/word vomit. evidently I had more opinions than I thought on the subject!

[elizaberglund.livejournal.com]

My guess is that Basti becomes captain for next 2 years (Euros) and than he retires from NT and either Sami or Mats take over. My vote would go to mats tbh ... he already captained Dortmund on some ocasions and is a favourite for the armband now that Kelly stepped down. I think if Mats becomes captain at Dortmund, he will be ready for NT captaincy in 2 years.

[the4thjuliek.livejournal.com]

Aaaaagh! How did I miss this illuminating debate?! (I was knocked out for 12 hours.)

Troll Müller for Emperor. The dork can make it a schoolyard game out there.


But seriously, I think Commander/Future Emperor Schweini should be captain/Emperor with either Earl Khedira or Prince Hummels second in command. Khedira proved himself during the U21 championships and Prince Hummels certainly has the leadership qualities. And he is the frontrunner for captaincy for BvB. I think if he gets that and does well, he could be a possible shoo-in for the captaincy.

[marsyke.livejournal.com]

Completely missed the debate.
I think that Schweinsteiger would do a good job if he got it. I don't think that his position within the team would change much if he doesn't get the armband.

But I'm not sure that he should get it. He's already 30, not that old but next Euros will probably be his last and the chances that he will play the world cup after that are small. So I would choose someone younger because otherwise we'll have the whole debate again in a few years.

I think that it's time for the new generation to take over. Sami would be good choice, he's a Real player so no problem for Bayern or BvB fans.

[daceymormont.livejournal.com]

schweini was my first choice but now i'm rooting for khedira - i think he'd do a fantastic job and he reminds me of philipp a lot
neuer, i can't see him as captain at all for some reason
same with hummels even though i'm sure he'd do good

[elizaberglund.livejournal.com]

but hasn't Sami been injured a lot lately too? If injuries are a point against basti, than what about Sami? And he is 3 years younger than Basti.

[fiorelina.livejournal.com]

I'll start by saying that I can't stand Bayern Munich and its bosses and I don't like the way Beckenbauer gets involved in discussions that are none of his business. He's not the one to make this choice and should leave it to those in charge.

HOWEVER, I've thought since 2010 that Schweini ought to be captain. I never thought Lahm had the right standing for the job and I would be very disappointed if Löw chose someone else again. Schweini is the obvious, the very visible leader of the team on the pitch. That's what it comes down to at the end of the day.

I'm worried the anti-BVB singing may have ruined his chances. I'm not going to make any excuses for him. He's a professional. He should know better. If he's to be captain this sort of thing can never, ever happen again. He gets along well with BVB players on the team so the video is not representative of his behaviour on the NT.

I love the way Hummels walks and talks, but to me he seems too strict, too removed from the grittiness, the joy, the passion of football. If I can't have Schweini as captain, I'd like to see Neuer. Neuer is as critical in his analyses as Hummels, but he's more team-oriented in everything he says. But for the sake of the NT I think captain and co-captain should not be from the same club. Therefore I vote Schweini/Hummels or Schweini/Khedira.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

Do you have an opinion on Sami as a candidate - keeping in mind the things he's won in Spain and Germany and with the team and that he's considered a leader already?

[bubonicwoodchuk.livejournal.com]

Oh, that Beckenbauer. Implying Neuer isn't an outfield player.