Germany coach Joachim Loew confirmed Tuesday Philipp Lahm would remain national team captain but admitted he was “unhappy” with aspects of a controversial autobiography published this week.
Loew and the Germany coaching staff met Lahm Monday to discuss the book in which the 27—year—old Bayern Munich defender is critical of several former coaches including Loew’s predecessors Juergen Klinsmann and Rudi Voeller.
However Loew said in Dusseldorf the captaincy was never discussed.
Lahm had not revealed any internal team affairs from Euro 2008 or otherwise and some issues mentioned in the book were already public knowledge, he said.
“We had talks yesterday evening to discuss why some things had been written about,” Loew said.
“I told him (Lahm) that I was unhappy he was passing judgment on other players and coaches. It’s nobody’s business.” Lahm last week apologized for any “misunderstandings” and said he did not want to insult anyone but merely give an honest view of what it was like working under different coaches.
He has since said it was a “mistake” as an active player to have written about former coaches.
Loew meanwhile has lost a third player to injury ahead of Friday’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Austria in Gelsenkirchen.
Borussia Dortmund midfielder Sven Bender pulled out with an ankle injury and has left the squad in Dusseldorf, Loew said.
Striker Mario Gomez withdrew Sunday with a thigh injury and Borussia Moenchengladbach’s uncapped midfielder Marco Reus pulled out Monday with a groin strain.
VfB Stuttgart striker Cacau was called up to replace Gomez, but Loew has decided against replacing Reus and Bender.
Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira was not nominated for the squad to play Austria and Poland in a friendly in Gdansk four days late because of injury.
