Philipp Lahm: Ilkay Gündogan can become the heart of Barcelona
I watched the Nations League with interest. This mini-European Championship was a foretaste of Euro 2024. The emotional highlight for me was Croatia’s victory against the hosts, the Netherlands, in the semi-finals. The stadium was sold out, the Dutch had been unbeaten at De Kuip for 23 years but after extra time 20,000 Croats celebrated in Rotterdam.
Not even 4 million people live in this country, yet Croatia have been to the World Cup semi-finals twice recently.
The team are so strong and so popular with their fans because the players are passionate about playing for their nation.
Their outstanding player is Luka Modric. He has been part of his national team for a good 17 years. Modric, recognised as a brilliant midfielder in Europe and the world, is an icon like Xavi or Andrea Pirlo.
Now Ilkay Gündogan has joined this squad by winning the Champions League as captain of Manchester City. After seven years and five Premier League titles, the victory in the Istanbul final marked the end of an era. Pep Guardiola has rid himself of a shortcoming, proving that City can now win anything at any time, just like Real Madrid and Barcelona. And Gündogan was an important part of that success. The midfield with him, Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne can be mentioned in the same breath as that of Real Madrid with Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Modric in their heyday.
Players such as Gündogan and Modric do not possess that one skill. It is not physicality, speed, the one‑on‑one that makes them, not the perfect shot or an outstanding header. It is the sum of everything.
They give their teams order and structure. In every situation, they recalculate the chances and dangers – those for the opponent, those for their own team. They secure the ball, keep
Read on irishexaminer.com
