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]

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?

[fiorelina.livejournal.com]

Counting the titles he's won and the fact that as a central midfielder he's very much involved in the game, he's a good candidate. Yet he doesn't feel as central or important to the team as Schweinsteiger or Neuer. I mean outside of the position he covers on the pitch. I've never personally warmed up to him. That's just a subjective thing of course. He just doesn't seem very charismatic (like Kroos actually) and doesn't always know how to handle the press. Hummels is a pro at that. Schweinsteiger charms people. Neuer makes jokes. But I remember a couple of unfortunate Khedira moments in front of the camera.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

The reason I asked is because Rafa Honigstein said that Loew considers Sami so important for the dressing room dynamic, he'd have taken him to Brazil whether he was fully fit or not.

As it turned out, Sami "became" fit through the tournament - which was lucky.

But apparently, the group suffers as a group when he isn't there.

I always admired Sami like crazy - but that was a real eye-opener even for me about his effect.

He's the same at Madrid, where he's in a dressing room that for 2 years has been poisonous as hell and he comes out looking pretty amazing - dignity in tact, getting on with everyone, never making himself obvious.

So I think it's that break between what we see - he doesn't give many interviews, for example - and how the group experiences his personality and values it.

[yamair.livejournal.com]

Loew considers Sami so important for the dressing room dynamic, he'd have taken him to Brazil whether he was fully fit or not.

Interesting. Given what he's said about Schweini, it seems that Loew would favour Sami. Perhaps there is precedent in Lahm, as he was also a bit unexpected.

I have a feeling though, that Bastian is such a darling to the public, will Loew pick someone else? The BVB chant may actually factor after all. If Jogi is looking for a reason to not pick him in the face of so much public sympathy. He now has one.

[fiorelina.livejournal.com]

Löw has always given him a hard time. Euro 2008 was probably the worst with the public scolding. I don't get their relationship. Public theory is that Löw won't pick someone he won't be able to control. He wasn't able to control Ballack - and look at how that ended - so he picked Lahm, who never disagreed with him. That would leave Schweini and especially Hummels with negative points, Neuer would be neutral, and Sami's looking pretty good. If Löw picks someone else the BVB chant will be his excuse, not the reason.

[yamair.livejournal.com]

This is why I'm still curious about how the chant video surfaced. The timing was really suspect.

What happened at Euro 2008? At first I thought Schweini was favourite, but it isn't looking that way now. Though he and Jogi were very appreciative of each other during the celebrations.





Tbh, I'd be happy with either Bastian or Sami.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

There's no feud.

They like each other. Loew will call Schweini a spiritual leader.

In 2008 Schweini did something unbelievably stupid - he was sent off, second group game, in the Euros.

Loew did say it had been stupid. BUT he also said he'd be starting him in the quarter finals. And he did. And Schweini slayed.

So I have to be honest. I don't think they are in a feud. I don't think they don't respect each other. I even suspect they like each other a lot. He just might not quite be what Jogi's looking for.

[yamair.livejournal.com]

Funnily enough, I tried to get Jogi's original comment, so searched for "too emotional" and "Jogi Löw". I got a glowing article on how much Jogi values Sami, and this comment from Klopp

I am more temperamental than Jogi [Löw]. That’s also my problem, being too emotional.

I think it's as you say and Sami has more of the qualities that Jogi would be drawn to. I think it'll come down to whether he'll go against popular opinion.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

True!

I think Sami would not be an unpopular choice though. He's the most old-school of the players ON THE PITCH - the player who reminds older Germans of what their players used to be like. And he came away with major plaudits after Euro 2012 and massive praise from Beckenbauer himself.

So we shall see...

It's an appointment I can't see anyone coming up with an objection for. Let's put it that way.

[fiorelina.livejournal.com]

jenny_jenkins already explained the basics. It was a stupid red card that happened in a difficult situation. At the time Schweini was still playing as a left-winger in offensive midfield. Löw was busy making a midfielder out of Poldi, so at the time Schweini and Poldi were playing on the same position - and Schweini got left outside. So when he got sent off Löw spoke harshly about it in public, but, as Jenny mentioned, he also said it was up to Schweini to make amends. Which he did, spectacularly so.

The whole incident ended rather funnily. Schweini, the red card offender, had to watch the Austria match from the audience. Bad boy. But then Löw got sent off himself (along with the Austrian coach) and ended up sitting right next to him! I guess that put things in perspective for Löw. LOL! Plus we got footage of Merkel & Schweini chatting at half-time.

Yes, they were very emotional at the WC. Plus Löw consoled Schweini in both 2008 and 2010 when he was crying on the pitch. Still, I don't know what to make of them.

[jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com]

And I wouldn't be too worried about how that video got out.

Some fan filmed it and ran to social media to show their hero.

It was, at base, completely harmless. It's something fans would find normal - singing about a rival. I'm sure neither the guy filming, or Schweini gave it a second thought at the time.

[fiorelina.livejournal.com]

Both Sami and Schweini weren't fit at the start of the tournament. I don't think Löw would have dared to leave them at home. We'll never know if Löw really thought Lahm in defensive midfield was going to work out or had always planned to move everyone back to their regular positions once the other two were fit.

I'd never have expected such warm words about Sami's dressing room presence. He doesn't give off that vibe in public, but as you said, we don't know what he's like behind closed doors.