Lahm writes autobiography, creates controversy

Germany and FC Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm has gotten himself into serious trouble with his upcoming autobiography, though it hasn't been released so far but only excerpts have been published in the German tabloid Bild.



The book titled 'The Subtle Difference' is about Lahm's observations over the years of his professional career about his coaches and teams. The first excerpts have been about Rudi Voeller, Juergen Klinsmann, Felix Magath and Louis van Gaal; with some harsh criticism from Lahm about their coaching and style of players management.



Philipp Lahm was surprised at the reactions and had to come out with a public statement which said, "Of course, I did not want to attack or offend Rudi Voeller, Juergen Klinsmann and other people. Rather I wanted, as is clear from reading my book, to portray my honest opinion about the work under different coaches and at different times."



All this hasn't gone down well with the football establishment in Germany with even the German FA (DFB) having to come together to discuss if any action would be taken against Lahm but the captain will not lose the armband as many in the German media speculated.



"We want mature players to make their opinions known, however in this case, Philipp has over-stepped the mark," said team manager Oliver Bierhoff.



And the same opinion was German national coach Joachim Loew who said, "There are a few passages in the book which I don't like, because here we have a young player openly criticising his trainer after they have worked together successfully for a long time."



"We will talk about this together next week," Loew added.



The autobiography has come in for heavy criticism by numerous Bundesliga coaches who cannot understand how Lahm could simply write such a book.

Klinsmann names US squad against Mexico friendly

New coach of the USA Jurgen Klinsmann has named the squad for his first game in-charge against archrivals Mexico on August 10 in Philadelphia, the team against whom the US lost the CONCACAF Gold Cup final only in June.

Klinsmann has not finalised his coaching staff by naming three assistant to work with him for this match in Martin Vasquez, his former assistant at Bayern Munich; former US captain and Bundesliga player Tom Dooley besides Tab Ramos. Mike Curry will be the Goalkeeper Coach, while Mark Verstegen also is back who worked with Klinsmann at the German national team.

Klinsmann has put a squad together with experienced players like Howard, Bocanegra, Jones and Donovan besides talented youngsters like Hamid, Castillo, Orozco Fiscal and Shea, while also giving a chance to once wonder boy Freddie Adu.

Klinsmann had called-up six players who earn their money in Germany, but 1.FC Nürnberg defender Timmy Chandler had to drop out due to an injury with MLS player Zach Loyd replacing him.


UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Goalkeepers
Bill Hamid (D.C. United); Tim Howard (FC Everton, England)

Defenders
Carlos Bocanegra (AS Saint-Etienne, France); Edgar Castillo (America, Mexico); Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96, Germany); Clarence Goodson (Bröndby IF, Denmark); Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis, Mexico); Heath Pearce (Chivas USA); Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas)

Midfielders
Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake); Michael Bradley (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach, Germany); Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany); Maurice Edu (Glasgow Rangers FC, Scotland); Jermaine Jones (FC Schalke 04, Germany); Brek Shea (FC Dallas); Jose Francisco Torres (Pachuca, Mexico)

Forwards
Freddy Adu (SL Benfica Lisboa, Portugal); Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls); DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla, Mexico); Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt, Germany); Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

Officials
Jurgen Klinsmann (Coach), Martin Vasquez (Assistant Coach), Tom Dooley (Assistant Coach), Tab Ramos (Assistant Coach), Mike Curry (Goalkeeper Coach), Mark Verstegen (Physical Trainer)

Klinsmann introduced as new US coach

German 1990 World Cup winner Juergen Klinsmann was earlier today introduced to the media in New York as the new coach of the US Soccer national team by the USSF president Sunil Gulati. The former Germany coaches task will be to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil after Bob Bradley was sacked as coach last week after four years in-charge. One of the arguments was that Bradley wasn't developing the team any further.

Klinsmann has his own style of functioning, implementing his own ideas which are sometimes unorthodox. It worked perfectly with the German national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup at home but failed miserably at German giants FC Bayern Munich.

Klinsmann is no newcomer to the USA or its football. He has lived there for over 13 years in southern California, is married to an American ex-model and he has gone to the extend to adopt himself to the US by dropping the 'E' from Juergen to allow people to call and write his name as Jurgen.

Klinsmann has worked as advisor and consultant, until taking up the new job he has also been a strategic advisor to the MLS side FC Toronto. The USA want to take the next step in world football and have turned to someone who understands the US culture.

In Germany many are sceptical if Klinsmann is the right man for the US soccer top job. People see the success of Germany at the 2006 FIFA World Cup now differently after Joachim Loew took over and Klinsmann failed at Bayern Munich.

Klinsmann's quote of the opening press conference was, "One of my challenges will be to find a way to define how the U.S. represents its country and its style of play."

A tough but interesting challenge for a man who was successful as a player with VfB Stuttgart, Bayern Munich, Internationale Milan and Tottenham Hotspurs. In England he was initially known as the diver, but Klinsmann was able to change perception about Germans on the British Isles. Maybe now he can develop a new and stronger football culture in the US, where the sport is growing by the day.