Sport | Football
Time to build on a fine show
The way Germany fought so hard against strong Italian opponents on Tuesday showed that they had grown into players of international class. It was a thrilling game, and Jurgen Klinsmann's team left the tournament with their heads held high: they have made their country proud and shown that they can compete with the very best.
- The Telegraph Group Limited
- Published: 00:00 July 7, 2006
The way Germany fought so hard against strong Italian opponents on Tuesday showed that they had grown into players of international class. It was a thrilling game, and Jurgen Klinsmann's team left the tournament with their heads held high: they have made their country proud and shown that they can compete with the very best.
However, I think it is important that these players now move up to the next level. To do that, they will have to capitalise on their high profiles and move abroad.
If German football is to take this successful summer and build on it, the best players must find places at the elite clubs in Europe. For me, that means they must move to England. Jens Lehmann is already there at Arsenal and Michael Ballack has recently moved to Chelsea. I think their international teammates should try to join them.
The Bundesliga is competitive but, as we have seen, German clubs have not had much success in European competition over recent years. The quality is not quite high enough.
The great German players of my generation played for Inter Milan and Juventus, but with the threat of relegation hanging over its big clubs, Italy does not look a stable place to play football. Spain has a very high level but German players are better suited to the style of play and the lifestyle in England. So which players do I think could make a big impression in the Premiership? There are three who I would pick out.
The most obvious is Miroslav Klose. Along with Ballack, he has undisputed international class. His contribution to this German team was far more than his five goals: he was hard-working, always dangerous and helped young players like Lukas Podolski to gain confidence.
The German left-back, Philipp Lahm, is another who would be a success in England. He has developed well at Bayern Munich and showed what he can do with his performances in these games.
The third player who I think would make a success of the Premiership is Lahm's Bayern teammate, Bastian Schweinsteiger. He is young but very talented, and this is a crucial moment for him: he will play a big part in the future of German football.
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