As his team set off for South Africa, Germany coach Joachim Low said that he is confident his young stars can shine in the World’s greatest football tournament.

 

With Philipp Lahm leading the team – Germany’s youngest ever tournament captain at only 26 – the absence of the likes of Michael Ballack will require others to step up to the mark and Low believes he has the players to do exactly that. “We have young players who are technically very good and the potential is high. Everybody is passionate in training and that makes me certain that we can play a good tournament – I have lots of faith”.

In Lahm, he also thinks that he has found the player who can fill the considerable gap left by Ballack. “He (Lahm) always speaks his mind clearly and openly – for me, Philipp Lahm is an important person to talk to.”

The Germans face Australia, Serbia and Ghana in Group D but despite the confidence that a good pre-tournament record brings, none will provide an easy passage to the last 16 for the 1990 World Champions. Low added “Everybody has worked hard, but we still have another week of hard work ahead”.