Addition: He also excluded the highest Budnesliga scorer Kevin Kuranyi from the wc squad because he was mad at him for walking out early in a game dating all the way back in 07. Is he coaching for his ego or the Nationalmannschaft? I do praise him however for bringing a new form of attacking strategy to the team and better style.

I think this article is slightly mischevious - downplaying Germany's chances is a classic ploy from the German media and public, but from what I hear speaking to people there is a quiet confidence that a semi final spot is definitely achievable and possibly more. In terms of natural talent, this squad would seem to have more than any side Germany has sent to a major tournament since 1998. Whilst the loss of Ballack is a blow, the emergence of Schweinsteiger as a class act in the same role nullifies it to a large extent

Come on. I could go down to Melbourne Backpackers, find 23 Germans and they'd still have a better chance than England of winning it. They said this after the 5-1 in Germany and that side still made the final. You never write off the Germans. Never.

It's hard to criticize him when Podolski and Klose continue to do the business for the national team. Both seemed to do just fine before arriving at Bayern, so maybe the problem isn't their form but they way they are (were in Podoloski's case) used. Gomez, on the other hand, has had a rough time and it's surprising that he is still in the side when his club form has dipped (or at least when he actually got any playing time). I also don't see why excluding Kuranyi is a problem. It's not like Kuranyi walked out when he was a 18 year-old kid; Kuranyi was an experienced player by that point. I wouldn't see this as being stubborn or Low being an egomaniac; rather, Low is saying that the team is most important and acting like a snotty brat reflects qualities that are antithetical to maintaining a team.

The problem with Loew's Germany is that he never finds the right mix: He neglects great young(ish) players like Dortmund's Mats Hummels or Stoke's Robert Huth (both central defenders that could be used in other positions and played very decent seasons in their respective leagues), and takes crap old players like Berlin's Arne Friedrich or Munich's Miroslav Klose (Louis van Gaal certainly has his reasons to field Klose not at all or just for a couple of minutes when the team is 3:0 up already). The few older players he should have taken to SA, however, are left at home (namely Werder Bremen's Torsten Frings who has played the season of his life and would have been the much needed defensive pillar in midfield, or indeed Schalke's Kuranyi, the Bundesliga's top scorer). If it hadn't been for a lot of injuries among his regular players, Loew's team would not be as young as it seems now.
And one more thing: In contrast to the omnipresent myth of Ballack's departure being a "big blow", his absence will make Germany a better and harder-to-beat side that will play faster and more skilful football. If the likes of Cacau and Marin aren't left to rot on the bench, that is ....

Hoboken United I completely agree my friend. Huth should be called back he had an amazing season and frings should have NEVER been neglected. Low has made some horrible decisions and I just hope Germany will be able to cope with his decisions.

I wonder what the authour and commenters are thinking now?