Departure of World Cup-winners Lahm, Mertesacker and Klose does little to dampen Germany and Loew’s expectations

Exit of country's golden generation exposes worrying gaps in German player pool, writes Richard Jolly

From left, Germany's Per Mertesacker, assistant coach Hansi Flickduring, Miroslav Klose and Philipp Lahm stand together after they were honored on occasion of their retirement from the national team ahead of the friendly against Argentina in Dusseldorf, Germany, on September 3, 2014. Frank Augstein / AP PhotoShow less

It was the speech of a winner, but with a difference. “We can play on top of the world for a good number of years,” Joachim Loew declared as he surveyed Germany’s golden generation.

These were not the words of a man who had just triumphed in a World Cup final, but of a manager who was preparing for one.

Perhaps it was a psychological ploy from Loew (if so, it worked because Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 to win the final).

Perhaps he was getting giddy after the greatest performance of his reign, the 7-1 semi-final demolition of Brazil. If so, it was forgivable.

It also set a daunting task for his team, who begin their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign against Scotland on Sunday.

It was not enough to become the first European team to win the World Cup after crossing the Atlantic Ocean. Their objective now is to ascend to still more rarefied company, to join the select group who were global and continental champions at the same time, teams such as France at the turn of the millennium and Spain, who won three successive competitions before their ignominious World Cup exit.

Indeed, there was also the West Germans of 1972 who overcame Europe’s finest and then two years later the best on the planet.

They are the most illustrious of the four German teams to win the World Cup. Names such as Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller and Sepp Maier echo through the ages.

A trio of modern-day German greats were paraded on the Dusseldorf pitch on Wednesday before their first game as World Cup winners.

Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose were in their civvies, each taking a final curtain call from the public after winning a combined 354 caps.

The striker Klose's international retirement at age 36 was no shock and, as solid a citizen as centre-back Mertesacker is, he will likely prove no huge loss; his lack of pace led to him losing his place in the World Cup.

But captain Lahm's exit was as unexpected as it could be damaging. The Bayern Munich man remains the game's outstanding full-back on either flank and is also a very fine holding midfielder.

His decision was a recognition that a mountain had been scaled, rather than the start of an attempt to climb another.

Lahm went out on top, rather than enduring the undignified farewell of the Spanish veterans whose hopes of further glory in 2014 were so brutally destroyed.

It was not quite as chastening as Spain’s 5-1 defeat to Holland – with the exception of Brazil’s humiliation at the hands of the Germans, few results are – but Loew’s men experienced their own comedown after the highest of highs in the rematch against Argentina on Wednesday.

They went 4-0 down, recovering but still losing 4-2, and prompted questions about the credentials of inexperienced defenders Erik Durm, Mathias Ginter and Antonio Rudiger.

Yet such are the standards their predecessors reached that they are charged with being world beaters.

At least Germany are the envy of almost everyone. They have a production line of young talent.

After the twin nadirs of Euro 2000 and Euro 2004, a World Cup win marked the culmination of a project.

Germany reached the semi-finals in five successive major tournaments. Klose, Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Lukas Podolski were the constants in an evolving squad.

"We have young players who aren't even here and other players with a fantastic future such as Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus, Mesut Ozil, Andre Schurrle and Thomas Muller," Loew said in Brazil.

The injured Dortmund duo of Gundogan and Reus are part of an extraordinary group of midfielders: the Bender brothers, Lars and Sven, and Julian Draxler are still fringe figures.

But Germany have lesser resources in other departments. They are short of full-backs and strikers, though the versatile, remarkable Muller camouflaged the absence of out-and-out forwards.

Stefan Kiessling is ignored, while the recalled Mario Gomez was booed against Argentina.

Defeat then gave the albiceleste the title of unofficial world champions. It was Scotland’s once; they were the first team to beat England after the 1966 World Cup.

They form Germany’s opponents on Sunday. Die Mannschaft will qualify for Euro 2016 – they always qualify for everything – but they will be studied for clues as to whether they can justify Loew’s lofty predictions.

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