Lothar Matthaus hails Phillip Lahm being appointed Germany captain

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus believes Bayern Munich's Philipp Lahm will prove a strong skipper at the World Cup.


National team coach Joachim Low yesterday confirmed defender Lahm as the man to lead Germany out in South Africa, replacing the injured Michael Ballack, and Matthaus is confident the 26-year-old will do well.

Phillip Lahm

"He is respected in the squad and has deputised for Ballack in the recent internationals when he was injured," Matthaus said.

"Lahm has always performed well and has a great deal of experience. He has already taken part in several big tournaments and represents the whole team's opinion. In addition, he has a strong contingent of six Bayern players behind him," Matthaus said.

With that in mind, Matthaus believes Low did right in choosing Lahm ahead of his club-mates Miroslav Klose and Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Lahm becomes the youngest captain of a Germany national team at a World Cup, but is nevertheless still a role model to those around him.

"As captain, you are there for the younger and more inexperienced players to lean on you. Lahm is the right captain," said Matthaus in the Abendzeitung newspaper.

The Bayern Munich full-back will wear the captain's armband in South Africa due to the injury-enforced withdrawal of Michael Ballack while Bastian Schweinsteiger has been named as vice-captain.

"I think both players have an important role and will take on lots of responsibility," said Germany coach Joachim Low.

"Both have played a really good season with Bayern Munich. Their performances with Bayern this season have confirmed that they are capable of taking on responsibility," Low remarked.

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