Philipp Lahm vs. Michael Ballack: Who will win the power struggle?

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Speaking to BILD, Lahm – who was awarded the captain's armband by coach Joachim Löw in place of the injured Ballack – was as tough as nails.

"It is clear I would like to retain the captaincy," stated the 26-year-old. "The job is a lot of fun for me. Why should I then voluntarily give up the role?!?”

The statement was an open challenge to 33-year-old Ballack, captain of the national team since the summer of 2004.

Lahm against Ballack – now it’s a power struggle!

The full-back told BILD why he felt he deserved to remain skipper: "If you do your job on the pitch and have it under control, as I do in my position, then you want more. And you want more responsibility. Then you want to take care of it all. And this is now the case with me."

A clear attack on Ballack!

The German Football Association (DFB) made a surprise announcement yesterday evening: "Michael Ballack has left for home.” At 6.55pm, he flew back to Frankfurt with Lufthansa, two days before the World Cup semi-final. Ballack had only arrived in South Africa last Thursday, and sat in the stands for the 4-0 win over Argentina. He had wanted to continue his rehab in the DFB hotel.

But yesterday there was a change of plan.

National team doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt said: "The surprisingly good recovery means it’s possible for him to start with the next step. The general conditions that he needs for that now are not available here."

Ballack is going for more rehab in Luxembourg but he wants to return if Germany reach the final. He said: "Now I must think of myself and my new club, take the next step, and soon be fit again."

With his return home, he has avoided a direct confrontation with Lahm which would have clarified a lot.

Lahm was ambiguous on the question of whether the team still needs Michael Ballack at all, telling BILD: "It is not for me to say yes or no to this question.”

If he would have wanted a Ballack return, he could have simply said yes...

The statements were made more explosive by the fact that Jogi Löw knew Lahm's position, but did not prevent him from speaking.

Germany’s strong performances in the last few weeks without Ballack have, of course, raised the question of whether he still has a future in the national team – or whether he would even consider retiring from international football.

A ‘Welt.de’ survey found 72 per cent of people believe Germany no longer need Ballack.

But there is a lot of support for him in German football. Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Voeller (50) said: "He is still the most dangerous goal-scoring midfielder in the world. He can help any team, even Germany. And there is no reason for him to stop being captain.”

Even DFB manager Oliver Bierhoff (42) said: "I assume Michael will be captain again after his return."

Lahm against Ballack – will the power struggle tear the World Cup team apart? Or will the fight make the players even stronger?

We will know the answer on Wednesday evening.

More World Cup news

At the unveiling of his return to Bayer Leverkusen, Micahel Ballack attacked his Germany stand-in Philipp Lahm, insisting: "I'm still the captain!"

Franz Beckenbauer has given his take on the talk surrounding the German captaincy, saying: "Great players do not need armbands!"

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