| 09.10.2008 |
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| On the surface, the news on Thursday that Germany’s current number 1, Robert Enke, had broken his hand ahead of this weekend’s match against Russia was a shock. But it may turn out to be a blessing in disguise. Leverkusen’s René Adler will likely replace Enke between the posts, and don’t be surprised if the change becomes permanent. Many people have been touting the talented 23-year-old as Germany’s keeper of the future, and his record in the Bundesliga is excellent. Adler is the sort of offensive-minded keeper every coach likes, someone who not only stops shots, but understands how to kick-start the counter-attack with long balls. Plus, whatever Enke’s merits, he’s no Ollie Kahn or Jens Lehmann in terms of on-the-pitch personality. Adler, whose acrobatic style has pundits often playing on the fact that his last name means “eagle,” is better suited to inspiring his teammates. So I doubt Jogi Loew is really all that concerned about the lack of Enke. For bigger soccer countries, qualifications are as much about finding the best squad for the tournament itself as racking up enough points to come first or second in your group. Adler, I predict, is one youngster who’ll be promoted in South Africa in 2010. Another pipsqueak to keep an eye on is Bremen's Mesut Oezil. Just a few days shy of his 20th birthday, the midfielder is enjoying a breakthrough season for Werder Bremen. He’s scored three goals thus far, all of them the sort of mid-range blasts that would help energize an area of the German team currently in need of a bit more bite. Oezil is eligible to play for both Germany and Turkey. So it was good news that the midfielder has resisted calls for Ankara and is suited up for the German Under-21s this weekend. If he maintains his form, count on Loew inviting Oezil to play with the big boys, thus securing his services for Germany for years to come. History shows that older teams rarely thrive in major competitions, and if Germany are to do some damage in South Africa, they’ll need young talents like Adler and Oezil. |
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