Germany

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Lahm reiterates Germany stance

09 Jul 2010 - 08:27:42

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Philipp Lahm has reiterated his pledge not to surrender the German captaincy back to Michael Ballack when he returns to the international fold.

Full-back Lahm skippered Joachim Low's side to the semi-finals in South Africa after Ballack was ruled out of the tournament with ankle ligament damage.

The 26-year-old from Bayern Munich has enjoyed his taste of captaincy and has warned Ballack that he will not give up the armband unless asked to do so by the coach.

"If the coach tells me 'Philipp, you must give the armband back to Michael', I would have no difficulty in doing that. I would accept the decision," said Lahm.

"But I am not going to go and seek out the coach and hand him back the armband of my own accord. When one is given a role such as this, one likes to keep it, as indeed I have loved my responsibilities during the finals.

"It is an enormous honour for me to be captain of the German team, and I would like to remain so, but in saying that, I am not attacking Michael, because in the end it is neither him nor myself, but the coach."