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Germany looks to 'Little Lahm' for guidance By Amir Inbar Between hobbies of playing video games and raising rabbits, between appearing at Bayern Munich then Stuttgart, then back at Bayern, between positions at right back and left, Philipp Lahm somehow became one of the world's best defensive soccer players. Even before the 90th-minute goal against Turkey in Wednesday's semifinals, Lahm knew he would emerge from the Euro 2008 tournament a winner. Advertisement In his youth, he was ridiculed for his small stature, 1.70 meters and 65 kilograms on a good day. "They used to laugh at me because of my build, and because my name is well-suited to word games. But I learned to deal with it at an early stage, through athletic achievements among other things," he recounted. Those achievements have drawn anything but ridicule for Lahm, whose name, among other things, means lame. The 24-year-old was the only German player to play all 690 minutes of the 2006 World Cup and was nominated FIFA World Player of the Year that year after his extraordinary performance in it. He was also selected as left back for that year's UEFA Team of the Year. In his short career he has already secured himself a starting position at German champions Bayern. He has sported the German national team jersey in three consecutive tournaments and earned the conviction of many Germans that he is one of the finest players on coach Joachim Loew's roster. One of Lahm's most critical decisions came five years ago. He was 19 then, stagnating in Bayern's youth system and unable to win a spot with the big boys. A coach of one of the team's reserve squads suggested to Stuttgart coach Felix Magath to take Lahm on for two years without having seen him play. Magath was astonished at the scrawny teen's ability. "He felt at home immediately on his arrival and maintained stability in every practice," he said. "That worried me, that he had come from the regional leagues but still felt that we didn't train hard enough." Perhaps to keep the young talent from getting bored, Magath suggested he switch from right back to left. Lahm blossomed. The player who was lent to Stuttgart to accumulate a few appearances in the Bundesliga soon became one of its most effective players, both domestically and in the Champions League. "Everything happened in such a fast and incredible way," he said of his early career. His stability on defense, speed, technique, versatility and contribution to offense have made him one of Germany's most valued players. In Euro 2004, he held a starting position in each of Germany's first three matches. He scored the opening goal of the 2006 World Cup (held in his home country) in the 6th minute against Costa Rica, cutting inside and striking a right-foot shot into the top-right corner of the net. But it was his match-winner Wednesday against Turkey that he has called the most important goal of his career. "The guy is amazing," said Germany teammate Miroslav Klose. "It's enough to watch him penetrate, and to finish against the goalie to understand that." If Germany is to prevail against Spain in tonight's Euro final, it is a safe bet that it will be thanks in no small part to the unimposing back with the funny name. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Wimbledon shocker Shahar Peer knocks out 9th-seed Safina to slide into the fourth round. Time to hit Iran Israel must destroy Iran's nuclear program within one year or risk being attacked.

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