Germany more unified than at Euro 2012: Lahm

BERLIN (AFP) –

Germany captain Philipp Lahm takes part in a training session of the German national football team in Berlin on October 14. Ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden, Lahm has admitted the atmosphere in the national squad is better than during their failed Euro 2012 campaign.

Ahead of Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Sweden, Germany captain Philipp Lahm has admitted the atmosphere in the national squad is better than during their failed Euro 2012 campaign.

After Germany’s vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger had recently said the squad was divided during June’s Euro 2012 campaign, Lahm has said things have improved.

Germany routed Ireland 6-1 in Dublin on Friday to leave them in control of Group C and in pole position to secure an automatic berth for Brazil 2014 ahead of Tuesday’s qualifier at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium with Sweden.

Lahm was suspended for the win at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium and says Schweinsteiger was right to draw attention to the lack of harmony which affected the team in June.

“The mood is better than it was at the Euro, but there wasn’t a bad atmosphere,” Bayern Munich’s Lahm told German magazine Kicker.

“(Schweinsteiger) is an experienced player who has spent many years in the national team and has every right to address things which strike him.

“That’s all part of it.

“Perhaps some people think back on whether they have done everything right and done the best for the team.”

There were murmurs of disharmony in the German squad during Euro 2012 as some of the younger players — particularly Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos — voiced frustration at their lack of game time.

Schweinsteiger also noted that not all the substitutes celebrated when Germany scored a goal at Euro 2012.

“It was certainly the case that some players were unhappy, some with great talent, but you have to put that aside for a tournament,” added Lahm.

“And a player like Bastian Schweinsteiger can address that with some authority, because he can challenge players.

“If a player like that brings something up, everyone opens their ears and questions it. I see all this as a very positive thing.”