World Cup 2010: What Does the Future Hold for Germany's Veterans?

While the young German team excelled and collected fans during their World Cup jaunt, it is easy to imagine that there might have been some watching with some trepidation. 

The likes of Renee Adler, Michael Ballack, Simon Rolfes and Heiko Westermann have all seen their positions filled by youngsters—and none of those youngsters will give up their new positions easily.

It is the best type of problem for a coach.

Of the players who are 30 or over, there are replacements for almost all of them waiting in the wings for a chance, and here I'll analyse which of them might have a future with 'der Manschaft' and which will probably fade away.

Michael Ballack

Ballack probably has the best chance of returning, if only for Euro 2012. He holds considerable sway in the dressing room, and it would be hard to begrudge him his 100th cap. If he continues to play at a good level for Bayer Leverkusen he can have a short term future, but whether as captain or not, it remains to be seen. My money would be on him retaining the captaincy and Lahm returning to vice until Ballack does retire.

He is 33 already, but his passing ability remains very good, while his leadership qualities are obvious. Perhaps with the youth and his talismanic presence, Germany can finally win a major trophy at Euro 2012.

Simon Rolfes

As long as his fitness concerns go away, Rolfes will partner Ballack in the Bayer Leverkusen midfield next season. Hard working, a good tackler and passer of the ball, Rolfes has probably fallen in the pecking order behind Sebastian Schweinsteiger and Sami Khedira.

His injury curse has meant he has not had a good international run for a while, and ultimately this will cost him his place in the future.

Renee Adler

Another Leverkusen player struck down by injury, Adler has a good chance of representing Germany in the future. He is in a tight race with Manuel Neuer and to a slightly lesser extent Tim Wiesse, and it is likely that whoever has the most impressive couple of seasons will take the coveted No. 1 jersey. 

Adler certainly has the qualities to take the starting berth, but Neuer will not relinquish it quietly. Both are agile and quick, as well as aggressive off the line, a trait seemingly shared with all German goalkeepers. 

Expect Adler to make a return. 

Miroslav Klose

He is probably the only German player who does not have a youth of similar or greater quality challenging his position. Gomez has fallen back as a footballer, Stefan Keissling is highly inexperienced at international level, and has only played striker for one season, while Patrick Helmes suffers from frequently reoccurring injuries. Klose might leave Bayern Munich, and if he does, and if he plays regularly, expect to see him at Euro 2012, but by 2014 he will be 36, and Germany will be struggling if they still rely on him to score their goals. 

Arne Friedrich

Friedrich came from relative obscurity to impress at this World Cup. He has been solid and dependable and the fact Germany conceded so few goals is in no small part down to him. He is 31 and has a few years left, and at Schalke he will play Champions league next season, which can only improve him for 2012. After that expect him to be replaced by the likes of Badstuber or Mat Hummels or Boateng, all three of which will be challenging him for his starting spot from now to the day he retires.

Torsten Frings and Thomas Hitzelsperger

These two players have both served Germany ably in the past, but with their advancing years and lack of popularity with the coach, neither of them are likely to feature for Germany again. 

This is not to say that the younger players are safe. The likes of Philip Lahm and Schweinsteiger are likely to feature for years to come, but Mario Gomez, Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker all need to either continue to perform or in the case of Gomez, improve dramatically, because the competition for Germany's 11 starting berths is becoming as hard fought over and difficult to decide as Brazil's.