Philipp Lahm

Name:Philipp Lahm
Country: Germany

Club Team: Bayern Munich
Position: Defender

Age: 26

One of the best backs on the planet, Philipp Lahm plays primarily as a left back, where he regularly surges up the field and cuts in to unleash lethal shots from his tiny boots for both Bayern Munich and Germany. Also noted for his superior crossing skills, Lahm is one of Germany's primary weapons. While possessing what is described by many as good speed, Lahm is prone to getting scorched by pacey attackers, like against Fernando Torres in the final of Euro 2008, due to an acceleration that is suspect at best.
Scouting thumbnail: Has no peers when it comes to attacking from the fullback spot. Raids forward with pace, verve and can beat defenders on the dribble. Slight of frame, however, and can be outmuscled on the ball at times by physical attackers.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben scored a spectacular volley in the second half, and Bayern Munich advanced over Manchester United into the European Champions League semifinals.
Despite a 3-2 loss (and 4-4 aggregate score) Wednesday, Bayern Munich advanced because of a 2-1 advantage in away goals. Bayern becomes the first German team to reach the semifinals since 2002 and will play Lyon who advanced past Bordeaux 3-2 on aggregate.
Manchester United had taken what seemed an impregnable 3-0 lead with a dominant opening spell, but Bayern scored just before halftime through Ivica Olic. The Bavarians' comeback gained even more momentum early in the second half when Manchester United was reduced to 10 men with Rafael's sending-off.
You can rehash the game with the play-by-play analysis below:
Team news and whatnot
Another fun night in with everyone's favorite family board game, Guess Who's Fit.
Is he an icon for Male Pattern Baldness? Yes. Really? Well in that case yes, Arjen Robben is fit.
Does he look like Ted Cassidy's Addams Family understudy? Yes. Ah, looks like John O'Shea will be available after all.
Does he ... look susceptible to peroxide poisoning? Yes, yes he does. That'll be Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is also fit to start in Bayern's midfield.
Does he have a light gingery fuzz aboard his jaw? Yes. You're not going to believe this, but yes. Wayne Rooney is in United's starting lineup. Honestly.
So it's a good job that Bayern coach Louis van Gaal is prepared. "I'd like to say that we did win a game with Rooney playing; it's not as if we can't win when Wayne Rooney is playing," he harrumphed today -- but this is the best bit: "We don't even need to win, a draw is fine." Miaow.
Manchester United: Edwin van der Sar, Rafael, Rio Ferdinand, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra, Darren Fletcher, Michael Carrick, Darron Gibson, AntonioValencia, Nani, Wayne Rooney*. Subs: Tomasz Kuszczak, John O'Shea, Johnny Evans, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, Dimitar Berbatov, Federico Macheda.
*Reports that Fabio Capello has been spotted weeping unashamedly into a United insignia hanky remain unconfirmed.
Bayern Munich: Hans Joerg Butt, Philipp Lahm, Daniel van Buyten, Martin Demichelis, Holger Badstuber, Arjen Robben, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mark van Bommel, Franck Ribery, Ivica Olic, Thomas Mueller. Subs: Michael Rensing, Anatoliy Tymoschuk, Hamit Altintop, Danijel Pranjic, Miroslav Klose, Diego Contento, Mario Gomez.
Jibber-jabber
"What are your thoughts about United's midfield?" wonders Tim Maxwell. "Seems to me that something is lacking. Although talented players all, they don't quite measure up to Bayern's group of Ribery, Van Bommel, etc. I think United needs to consider an upgrade. Some creativity to go along with the work rate of Carrick/Fletcher/Scholes would be nice."
Creativity and movement, I think, which is why Fergie's decision not to play Nani before the last 18 minutes against Chelsea was so odd. There were legs in that midfield that remember the 1929 Wall Street Crash. A more youthful selection today though, and of course they'll be playing with Rooney rather than Berbatov, who'll no doubt be his usual bubbly self on the bench.
"I really hope Bayern München wins it all," says Yoothana Mumme, quite possibly cackling madly. "And to go through Manchester United would be even better. The worst loss I have witnessed was the loss to United in the '99 CL final. Oh, how sweet it would be for Bayern to win tonight. Die Bayern kommen, die Bayern kommen!"