Germany coach plays down captaincy row (2nd Roundup)

By Jens Mende and Klaus Bergmann Jul 6, 2010, 21:00 GMT

Durban - Germany coach Joachim Loew on Tuesday rejected suggestions that team harmony had been dealt a blow by Philipp Lahm's claims to retain the captaincy.

'It doesn't bother us here at all,' he said.

'Of course he (Lahm) wants to take on responsibility and has done that in exemplary fashion. He also knows that it is for the coach to take the decision that will be made at the right time after the World Cup.'

Lahm had said in interviews he would like to stay captain even if Michael Ballack returned from injury after the World Cup.

The comments were seen in Germany as denting harmony in the team camp ahead of Wednesday's semi-final against Spain.

Ballack, 33, had been with the squad to lend support during the quarter-final win over Argentina. He left on Monday amid media suggestions that relations with some of his team-mates were less than idyllic.

However Loew said Ballack had left on the advice of the team's medical staff to begin rehabilitation work ahead of the new season and would return at the weekend if the team were successful.

The team's medical staff had seen that the injury had healed faster than expected and felt Ballack should waste no time in resuming training, Loew said.

Team manager Oliver Bierhoff said earlier that Ballack had not been aware of Lahm's comments before he left and appeared to throw his support behind Ballack.

'It has been discussed in the team council: Michael Ballack is still the captain - and Philipp is now our World Cup captain,' Bierhoff told a press conference.

Bierhoff expressed his disappointment in the timing of the issue, calling it 'not so fortunate.'

'This is an issue that cannot be addressed this week. Now we have to focus on completing the final two games successfully. Everything else comes thereafter and in the end is a decision of the coach,' he said.

The row broke out on the same day that German keeper Manuel Neuer was asked at a press conference Monday about the harmony within the German side.

'No, we're not taking any harmony pills. We just get along well with one another,' said Neuer.

But the media had a field day later when Lahm said in a number of interviews that would like to remain Germany captain beyond the World Cup, creating splash headlines in Germany of a 'power struggle' between him and Ballack.

'Of course I don't want to give up the captain's armband again,' Lahm was quoted as telling the Munich-based daily tz. 'I will not volunteer to give it up. But that decision is with the coach.'

Asked by the tabloid Bild whether the German team still needed the 98-times capped Ballack, Lahm said: 'I am not the one who should answer the question with a yes or a no.'

The row has created a giant stir back home with a variety of former German greats lining up and taking sides on the issue.

'There is no reason that he should quite as captain,' said former German national team boss and 1990 world champion Rudi Voeller, who also is also the sports director of Ballack's new Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.

'He is still one of the most dangerous midfielders in the world. He can help any team.'

Former Germany captain and record international Lothar Matthaeus meanwhile called out for Ballack to step down.

'If Michael were to say now: 'The team is strong without me as well, I am stepping down and concentrating on Leverkusen, then he would prove his stature,' Matthaeus told Bild.

And former international Stefan Effenberg is convinced Ballack will return to the German side.

'He has a great club with Bayer Leverkusen, he will return to fitness and he will again be the captain of the national team,' said Effenberg, a commentator on the World Cup for German pay-TV channel Sky.

'Philipp Lahm must then return to the second rank and give up the armband.'