SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Germany confident with new soccer squad

Record ID: 455088

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: FOOTBALL/SOCCER - WORLD CUP 2010 - Germany confident with new soccer squad
  • Date: 9th June 2010
  • Summary: PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 8, 2010) (REUTERS) GERMAN TEAM ARRIVES WITH TEAM BUS AT ATTERIDGEVILLE SUPER STADIUM TEAM ON PITCH MIROSLAV KLOSE AND OTHERS LISTENING TO TRAINER TRAINER JOACHIM LOEW SPEAKING TO TEAM CAMERAMEN TEAM RUNNING ATTACKERS THOMAS MUELLER, MARIO GOMEZ AND OTHERS RUNNING LOEW PREPARING FIELD FOR TRAINING TEAM EXERCISING VARIOUS OF ATTACKER LUKAS PODOLSKI, BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER AND OTHERS DURING TRAINING TEAM FINISHES TRAINING AND CLAPS TIM WIESE AT GOALKEEPER TRAINING TEAM KICKING BALL MIDFIELDER MESUT OEZIL PREPARES HIMSELF TRAINER JOACHIM LOEW SHOUTING DURING TRAINING TEAM CAPTAIN PHILIPP LAHM WITH DEFENDER ARNE FRIEDRICH PAN ACROSS TEAM WIDE OF STADIUM WITH TEAM TRAINING
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAEIIG9XYYSITCQ9AZN60P0BHJ5
  • Story Text: Arne Friedrich will partner Per Mertesacker in Germany's central defence when they kick off their World Cup campaign against Australia on Sunday (June 13), the defender said on Tuesday (June 8).
    After a bad season that saw his Hertha Berlin team relegated, Friedrich, who in the past has played as right back, did not believe he would make it to the June 11-July 11 tournament. However, strong performances in warm-up games have seen him reinforce his position at the heart of the defence.
    Friedrich told reporters in Johannesburg that after having a tough season behind him, he felt more comfortable in the central defence position, where he could be more involved in organising the game.
    He said he thought that the new squad resulting from the loss of Michael Ballack still had good chances in the tournament.
    Friedrich, who is looking for a new club, said he would most likely play as the left-sided centre-back with Mertesacker on the right.
    The 31-year old, who has won 72 caps, said Germany would probably start with the same team which began their final friendly 3-1 win against Bosnia and also included out-of-form striker Miroslav Klose.
    Disappointing Klose netted only three times in the league in the past season and Germany scored all their goals against Bosnia when he was taken off for in-form striker Cacau.
    Germany, who also play Serbia and Ghana in Group D, must not drop any points against the Australians, given they are eager to quickly book their spot in the second round, Mertesacker said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register