Bayern Munich coach Louis van Gaal has confirmed Mark van Bommel as his skipper for the new season and named Philipp Lahm as vice-captain.

The Dutch midfielder was given the captain's armband by Jurgen Klinsmann last season after Oliver Kahn retired.

However, the arrival of Anatoliy Tymoschuk from Zenit St Petersburg seemed to suggest that Van Bommel's place in the Bayern team was no longer guaranteed, but Van Gaal has decided that his compatriot will indeed be one of the first names on his team sheet next season.

"We have been observing his behaviour on and off the field over the last four weeks and the influence he has on the club and on the squad,'' explained Van Gaal's right-hand man Andries Jonker on the club's website.

Tymoschuk must now fear for his place in the Bayern team after being told he is only second-choice behind Van Bommel.

And since Van Gaal has made it clear that he wanted to choose a captain who will play every week, Tymoschuk may have to spend much of his first season in Bavaria sat on the bench.

"He cannot play in his best position in our system,'' admitted Van Gaal. "That is where Van Bommel plays. He could play on the right, but I have chosen Hamit Altintop for there. Every player is compared to his rivals and the coach makes the decisions.''

And Van Gaal is pleased to have Van Bommel conveying his orders on the field. "The players accept him like a captain,'' he added.

Schalke midfielder Jermaine Jones has criticised Germany coach Joachim Löw for not giving him a "fair chance".

Jones this week revealed he was going to represent the USA in future and turn his back on Germany after making just three appearances in friendly matches.

And since making his decision known, the 27-year-old has not missed any opportunity to accuse Löw and the German Football Association (DFB) of making his decision for him.

In an interview with Sport Bild magazine, Jones lashed out at Löw.

"It is since February that I have not understood why I was not in the following international games," he said. "The basis upon which they make decisions annoys me - certainly it does not come down to performance.

"In my case, it was unfair and not correct. I did not have a fair chance with the DFB."

Although Jones denies claiming in an interview with an American newspaper that he does not fit in racially in Germany, he reinforced his belief that his refusal to toe the line could have cost him his international future under Loew.

"You have always got to keep your mouth shut, agree with everything and obey the DFB," he explained. "I am a lad with a strong character. With the DFB, there are two leaders in Torsten Frings and Michael Ballack, but that is it.

"All of the rest just follow (rules) and keep quiet, which I can understand because there is a climate of uniformity. But that is not me."

The Schalke midfielder added that Löw had told him precisely what he needed to work on, but that these proved to be "empty words" since no actions followed.

And it was clear to him upon arrival at the national team's training camp in Mallorca at the end of May that he was not going to be one of the players sticking with the squad for their tour of Asia in June.

He said: "The coach always says that everybody has a chance here, but that did not seem to be the case. Marko Marin, Patrick Helmes and I were called up to Mallorca but as soon as we got there, we were given the last numbers in the squad.

"We asked (general manager Oliver) Bierhoff immediately if this meant anything and he said 'no', but everything was heading in that direction from the very beginning. We had a bitter taste back then and that remains to this day since our feelings were confirmed."

Jones' decision to represent the USA in future may have repercussions at club level.

New Schalke coach Felix Magath admitted the extra travelling involved in representing his new country "leaves its mark after a while".

He added: "This choice has disadvantages for him. He will have to travel half the way around the world for his games. You can cope with that for maybe two or three times."


[ESPN]

For this Friday’s international game against China, German coach Joachim Löw sets his trust on his more experienced players. Because of a somewhat depleted roster of 17 players and the fact, that Arne Friedrich was unable to participate in Thursday’s public practice session, Robert Huth of FC Middlesbrough is expected to start in the friendly match. Newcomers such as goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke), Cacau (VfB Stuttgart) and Christian Träsch (VfB Stuttgart) will most likely be on the reserve's bench first.

Apart from Friedrich, defender Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04) and midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern München) had to rest for at least part of Thursday's practice session. Westermann had suffered a hit on the heel on Wednesday, while Schweinsteiger's ailing back forced him to leave Thursday's session early.

Medical staff are nevertheless optimistic, that Schweinsteiger will be ready-to-go for the match. The decision on Friedrich and Westermann on the other hand will be taken shortly before kick-off.

Earlier, German National Coach Joachim Löw had appointed Mario Gomez and Lukas Podolski to start on the attack, while Robert Enke (Hannover 96) will be the starting goalkeeper, even though the 31-year-old had suffered a painful head laceration during the last league match in Bielefeld, which had to be suturated.

Manuel Neuer will get his first cap in the match against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on Tuesday.


[DFB.de]

Forward Mario Gomez has not scored in his last 13 appearances for Germany so a match against a Wales side who appear to have surrendered all hope of reaching the World Cup finals could be just what he needs.

Coach Joachim Löw has remained loyal to Gomez despite his lack of goals and looks set to retain him alongside Lukas Podolski in Cardiff on Wednesday in Group Four in the continued absence of injured striker Miroslav Klose.

Stuttgart's Gomez could even benefit from the match being away after he was jeered by home fans in Leipzig on Saturday when he missed several chances in the 4-0 defeat of Leichtenstein which maintained Germany's four-point lead.

"Of course, the whistles hurt," Gomez said in an interview on Eurosport. "It is obvious that it wasn't good, and if they are whistling me personally, then that isn't nice. I know how it is and it would be different had I scored. I just need to start putting the ball over the line."

Euro 2008 runners-up Germany are clear favourites to win the group although with second-placed Russia, who have a game in hand, up against whipping boys Liechtenstein on Wednesday, Löw will be wary of the unpredictable Welsh.

"They need to open up more if they want to have a chance to qualify," Löw said of Wales although the mood in the Welsh camp after a 2-0 home defeat by Finland on Saturday suggests they have already given up.

Skipper Craig Bellamy summed up the mood after a third defeat in their five groups games so far. "You've probably seen two poor sides trying to contest this group and none have a glimmer of hope of qualifying," he told the BBC. "Where do we go from here? God knows."

Coach John Toshack admitted his side's hopes of qualifying for a first major finals since the 1958 World Cup finals are over. "We've got five games left and realistically if we won all five we still wouldn't have enough points."

Germany are likely to be unchanged from the side that beat Liechtenstein with Hamburg's Marcell Jansen retaining his place on the left and defender Serdar Tasci also getting another chance after a positive display on Saturday.

Probable teams:

Wales: Wayne Hennessey; Chris Gunter, James Collins, Lewin Nyatanga, Gareth Bale; Simon Davies, Carl Fletcher, Aaron Ramsey, Joe Ledley, Jason Koumas; Craig Bellamy.

Germany: Robert Enke, Andreas Beck, Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Serdar Tasci; Marcell Jansen, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Michael Ballack; Lukas Podolski, Mario Gomez.

Joachim Löw has nominated 21 players for the upcoming games against Liechtenstein in Leipzig on March 28 and in Cardiff on April 1 against Wales, both qualifying games for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The German coach has refilled some open slots with Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen and Lukas Podolski – all three players sat out the year’s opening game against Norway due to injury. On Sunday, Friedrich cancelled his participation due to an injury, suffered in Berlin's 0-2 defeat at Stuttgart on Saturday.

Hannover's Robert Enke, recently sidelined due to a fractured left hand, returns as one of three goalkeepers on the roster. "I felt that he has had a rather successful convalescence, he’s found his old form quickly", said Löw about Enke. Löw also commented on Lukas Podolski’s reappearance in the ranks: "The fact that he battled back into Bayern's starting line-up did not have an effect on our nomination. We’d have called upon him either way, as we rate him highly. Lukas is an excellent forward."

Marcell Jansen from Hamburger SV is yet another returnee following a prolonged injury phase. "As Piotr Trochowski reports injured, we needed a midfield alternative. We will check back with the HSV to get another read on his ability to perform. But disregarding Trochowski's injury status, Marcell Jansen has performed well in the Bundesliga following the winter break. He is certainly a valid option."

Germany coach Joachim Low is sweating over the fitness of goalkeeper Rene Adler and playmaker Piotr Trochowski ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.

The pair arrived at the national team's hotel today carrying knocks and had to report to national team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt for tests.

Adler has a swollen elbow while Trochowski sat out Hamburg's 2-1 win at Schalke yesterday with a pulled muscle.

"There is still a question mark over Trochowski, but I hope he can start training in the next few days," said Low. "Adler has bruising and swelling, but I am confident he can also train this week."

Low is unlikely to call up any replacements, despite already losing Miroslav Klose, Torsten Frings and Arne Friedrich.

Germany host Liechtenstein in Leipzig on Saturday before travelling to Cardiff to face Wales four days later.

Germany coach Joachim Low has awarded first international call-ups to Mesut Ozil and Andreas Beck while Robert Enke and Lukas Podolski have been left out of the 21-man squad to face Norway in a friendly next Wednesday.

Ozil has recently committed himself to the Germany national team despite advances from Turkey, who he would also be eligible to represent.

Should he earn his first cap next Wednesday, he would officially only be able to represent Germany in future and Low is ready to hand him that after a chat last Friday.

"The Turkish Football Association have been trying hard to get him recently and we decided to sit back for a while until he decided whether he wanted to play for the Germany national team," said Low. "In a telephone conversation last Friday, he told me that he wants to play for our team in future.

"That made it only obvious that we would nominate him in the squad for the Norway game."

Werder Bremen midfielder Ozil was born in Germany and is the third generation of a Turkish family that settled in the country.

He said it had been difficult "because my family and many of my friends come from Turkey," but he feels he has "made the right decision".

He added: "This is not a decision against my Turkish roots. I am delighted to be called up and will look to take my chance with the Germany national team."

Defender Beck has impressed for Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim this season and is likely to earn his first cap on Wednesday.

"We took a good look at him last year and now we want to give him the chance to prove himself with us," explained Low. "He has developed well at Hoffenheim and that is why we want to test him on the right-hand side in the national team.

"He is one of the young and dynamic players with potential who we particularly want to promote."

Low has named only two goalkeepers in his squad in Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler and Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese.

Many had been expecting Hannover's Enke to return after he came through his first 90 minutes following a four-month injury lay-off in the Bundesliga at the weekend, but Low explained a return to the national team right now had come too soon.

"After a long absence, Robert has only played one game in the Bundesliga," he said. "We know what he can do and it is important for him now to get more match practice over the coming weeks."

Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings are both back in the squad after missing the defeat by England last year while Stefan Kiessling returns to add to his single cap, picked up almost two years ago.

He takes the place of Bayern Munich striker Podolski, who has been excluded due to a lack of game time brought about by recent injuries and illness.

The squad will meet on Sunday evening to prepare for the game with Norway, which takes place in Dusseldorf.

Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Defenders: Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Andreas Hinkel (Celtic), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke)

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Marko Marin (Borussia Monchengladbach), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg)

Attackers: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes, Stefan Kiessling (both Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich)

via Soccernet

German coach Joachim Löw has nominated three newcomers to the line-up for Wednesday’s football classic against England. For the first time, defender Marvin Compper and midfielder Tobias Weis of 1899 Hoffenheim as well as Marcel Schäfer of VfL Wolfsburg received an invitation to the “Mannschaft”. Löw made his 20-player-roster for Wednesday’s game in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium public last week.

“This last game of the calendar year offers us an opportunity to try out some new things, to show some new wrinkles. All three novices earned their starts due to their recent performances in the Bundesliga”, said Löw.

Because of their injury status, several players usually indispensable components on the team were left off the list. Michael Ballack from FC Chelsea was not called-upon as well as Philipp Lahm (Bayern München), Clemens Fritz and Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger Sport Verein) and Christian Pander (Schalke 04).

Nevertheless, Ballack, Frings and Lahm will travel to the German capital on Monday. As all three players represent the team counsel, they will participate in the scheduled negotiations with DFB President Dr. Theo Zwanziger and General Secretary Wolfgang Niersbach on the bonus payments for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying round.

The German coach has also announced that he intends to address the team about his expectations for the upcoming games on the road to South Africa.

German coach Joachim Löw has informed Jens Lehman, that he will not nominate the 38-year old former goalkepper of the German national team for a farewell-appearance in the game against England on November 19.

Following the personal talk with Lehmann, Löw said: “Our group of young keepers needs the experience of these international matches. Obviously, a final appearance in the England game would have been a nice gesture towards Jens.

"Even more so, because Jens spend five years in Arsenal, and every fan remembers his heroic deeds in the Berlin Olympiastadion during the 2006 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal against Argentina. All this considered, our team goals had to be given priority.”

Löw also praised Lehmann’s achievements wearing the Germany jersey. Lehmann played his final international in the EURO final against Spain in Vienna on June 29, 2008. He has been capped 61 times for Germany.

“Jens has done much for German football. During our four years working together, he has always been an important sounding board. I have been impressed by his leadership and his professionalism throughout.

"He was able to focus to the point, whether during practice sessions or in the games. I have met few players, who were able to contribute in such a positive and effective way."

BERLIN, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Germany captain Michael Ballack plans to apologise to coach Joachim Löw in person in a move that should help to cool their public row.

"I will sit down with Joachim Löw, as soon as my injury permits, and apologise for my behaviour to him," Ballack was quoted as saying in a statement released by the German Football Association (DFB) on Sunday.

Ballack's position as captain came under threat when Löw reacted furiously to a newspaper interview in which the Chelsea midfielder suggested senior players were not being treated with enough respect.

Plans for a meeting between the two men were scuppered on Friday when Chelsea said he could not travel because of his foot injury but the DFB said on Sunday that Ballack had telephoned Löw again on Saturday evening.

"I told Jogi Löw that it was never my intention to criticise the work he is doing as national team coach," Ballack was quoted as saying. "I just wanted to show support for my fellow players.

"I admire Jogi Löw as a player and a professional very much."

Löw told the DFB he would wait for the meeting to take place before making any comment.

"I've noted Ballack's explanation but much more important is our private discussion," Leow said.

The row over the treatment of senior players exploded after Löw left Kevin Kuranyi and Torsten Frings out of the starting line-up for Germany's World Cup qualifier against Russia this month.

Kuranyi walked out on the team while the match was still going on, bringing his international career to an end, while Frings, after being left out of the starters for the next match as well, said he would consider his future.

Germany coach Joachim Low is to summon captain Michael Ballack to Germany to discuss his future with the national team in the wake of damaging comments made in a newspaper interview.

Ballack accused Low of lacking respect for older players such as Torsten Frings in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Newspaper earlier this week.

The Chelsea midfielder is unhappy with the way Frings and Kevin Kuranyi have been sidelined by Low, suggesting they have been treated with a lack of respect and asking: Where are we going to end up?''

These remarks have left Low seething and he wants to speak to Ballack face to face.

He said today: I will telephone Michael Ballack and summon him for a talk in Germany.

(I will) tell him that I am hugely disappointed with the route he has chosen and that the remarks he has made are unacceptable.''

Ballack's future as Germany captain and his whole international career are riding on the discussion and Low has not ruled excluding Ballack in the same way as he ended Kuranyi's international career, at least temporarily, 10 days ago.

My decision depends on what happens in this discussion,'' revealed Low. We will just have to wait and see where we go.

We have often encouraged Michael Ballack to speak up about the things he, as captain, sees critically, but for him to use the media to criticise our work is completely wrong and cannot be accepted.''

Low did not play Frings in the recent World Cup qualifiers against Russia and Wales.

And Kuranyi was told he would not play for Germany again while Low is in charge after he left the Westfalenstadion at half-time of their World Cup qualifying victory over Russia because he was left out of the 18-man matchday squad.

Low said: No player, not even the captain, has the right to criticise the coach in reference to his team selection and choices or to even revolt against the coaching team publicly.

It seems that the term 'respect' goes hand in hand with an automatic place in the starting XI.

But there are other personal and tactical things that a coach must consider when he makes his decisions.

The coaching team will not accept anybody saying we lack respect.''

Among other things, Ballack said of Frings' omission: If you don't want anybody any longer, then you should just say so honestly. Respect and loyalty is the least a worthy national player can expect.''

He also expressed his disappointment at not having been contacted by Low since undergoing foot surgery.

Germany coach Joachim Löw said on Sunday he would no longer select striker Kevin Kuranyi after he went absent without leave, disappearing from the stadium following Saturday's 2-1 win over Russia in a World Cup qualifier.

The Schalke 04 forward, who had not been selected for the 18-man match squad in the Group Four qualifier, watched from the grandstand as Lukas Podolski and Michael Ballack hit first-half goals to seal the win on Saturday.

Afterwards, the 26-year-old did not show up for the team bus on their journey from the stadium to their base in Düsseldorf and up until Sunday morning had no contact with the team.

Löw and team manager Oliver Bierhoff made several attempts in vain to reach the striker on his mobile phone.

Löw immediately reacted by discarding him. "I cannot accept a reaction such as that shown by Kevin, and therefore I will no longer select him in future for the national side," Löw said.

German coach Joachim Löw has nominated Andreas Hinkel for the two World Cup qualifying games against Liechtenstein on Saturday, September 6 and Finland on Wednesday, September 10.

The 26-year old defensive player is currently playing for Scotland’s champions Celtic Glasgow. He had his debut in the German team on April 30, 2003, in a game against Serbia-Montenegro. On September 3, 2005, Hinkel played his last game in the black-and-white uniform, a 2-0 defeat against Bratislava.

"Andreas is a regular with Celtic, where he has shown some good games", said Löw following Hinkel’s nomination.

Andreas Hinkel was called up as a replacement for Torsten Frings, who is out due to a nasal bone fracture. Captain Michael Ballack is also still doubtful as he still has problems with his foot.

Torsten Frings has been ruled out of the first two games of the qualifying round for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Frings called up coach Joachim Löw on Sunday evening to report that he was unable to compete. Germany play Liechtenstein on Saturday, September 6 in Vaduz and Finland on Wednesday, September 10 in Helsinki

The midfielder is out due to a nasal bone fracture which he suffered in a collision during a basketball game at a publicity event of his club Werder Bremen on the island Spiekeroog. Frings underwent surgery in a hospital in Bremen.

Still doubtful for the games is Michael Ballack. The German skipper still has problems with his foot and he missed the match of his club FC Chelsea against Tottenham Hotspurs on Sunday.

Ballack has been declared fit to play for the final.

Here is Germany's starting line-up:

Lehmann, Friedrich, Lahm, Mertesacker, Metzelder, Schweinsteiger, Frings, Ballack, Hitzlsperger, Podolski, Klose.

Löw sticks with the XI that started the second half of the 3-2 semi-final victory against Turkey.

Germany captain Michael Ballack is doubtful for Sunday's Euro 2008 final against Spain because of an injury to his right calf, the German Football Association (DFB) said on Saturday.

Ballack missed training on Friday back at the team's base in Tenero and he was unable to join the eve-of-match session at the stadium in Vienna on Saturday. The DFB said the question of whether he could play was 'fully open' with just over 24 hours to go before the final.

The 31-year-old midfielder has scored two goals during the tournament and was the outstanding player in the 3-2 win over Portugal in the quarter-finals. He was less impressive against Turkey in the semi-finals but his absence would be a huge blow to the German team, who are bidding for their fourth European Championship title.

Ballack has never played in a major final for Germany. He missed the final of the 2002 World Cup through suspension and was part of the team that lost the 2006 semi-final to Italy.

Torsten Frings has recovered sufficiently from his fractured rib and could return to the Germany team to face Turkey in Wednesday's Euro 2008 semi-final. That is according to coach Joachim Löw, who said that the experienced midfielder trained on Monday. Frings trained with a protective bandage and reported no major problems, except for a nagging pain.

Frings, one of Germany's most experienced midfielders, broke his rib in the 1-0 win over Austria in their final group game. That put him out of the quarterfinal against Portugal. Thomas Hitzlsperger and Simon Rolfes stepped in with excellent performances in the centre of midfield. Löw could now be faced with a tricky decision whether to stick to the successful formation used against Portugal last week or to switch back to his old 4-4-2 system with Frings starting beside Ballack.

Here's the German's starting lineup for the game:

Lehmann will be keeping goal as usual.

In front of him, the back four will consist of the same that played against Austria, namely (L to R): Lahm, Metzelder, Mertesacker, Friedrich.

The midfield will have a bit of a shake-up following Schweinsteiger's return and Frings' injury. Rolfes has been handed his first start at the Euro. The four midfielders are (L to R): Hitzlsperger, Ballack, Rolfes, Schweinsteiger.

Upfront, Gomez has been taken off in favor of Podolski partnering Klose.

Germany midfielder Torsten Frings took part in his country's final training session before they travel to Basel for their quarter-final match against Portugal despite a broken rib – but forward Lukas Podolski was not risked.

Frings, 31, suffered the rib injury during Germany's 1-0 win against Austria on Monday and looked relatively comfortable in training, although he did not get involved in any tackling. Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said: "Torsten really wants to play, which is not normal with a broken rib as it is a very painful injury. Our medical department are doing everything in their power to give him the chance to play on Thursday. It is possible he will play under a local anaesthetic."

The 23-year-old Podolski, who scored three goals during the group stage, has been troubled by a calf problem and went through a special routine rather than join in the team session. "The situation with him has improved vastly but we still cannot say whether he will play," Bierhoff added.

Germany's starting lineup against Austria:

Lehmann will be in goal.

Lahm as left-back, Metzelder and Mertesacker as the center-backs, Friedrich as right-back.

Ballack and Frings in the center of midfield with Podolski on their left and Fritz on the right.

Gomez and Klose will start up front.