Flashscore: It’s a pleasure to talk to you today. I’d like to start by asking about Leicester City. It’s been about ten years since you won the Premier League with them, and now they’ve been relegated to League One. Looking from the outside, how does that make you feel? What do you make of their decline, and what are your overall thoughts on the situation at the club?
Robert Huth: "The main feeling is disappointment, really. Ten years ago, Leicester was a club that other teams looked at in terms of recruitment, selling and buying players smartly. That seems to have been lost over the last two or three years.
"It’s disappointing to see them drop down to League One, but it just shows that missing a transfer window or two can really work against you in football."
Thinking back to that special Leicester team, what was your thought process going through that title-winning season? Did you ever believe you could win the league, or was it a case of taking each game as it came? And what were Claudio Ranieri’s messages to the team?
"Winning the league honestly wasn’t on our minds at all in the beginning, especially after just staying up the season before. Early on, the aim was just to remain in the Premier League. We managed to secure our safety fairly quickly, before the turn of the year, really, so we had to rethink our goals. But there was never a dramatic shift in mindset; it always stayed game by game.
"Claudio was very good at keeping us focused on the immediate task. In sports, you can’t get ahead of yourself, and he made sure we didn’t. Of course, as humans, you can’t help but imagine things, but we stayed grounded thanks to his leadership."
When people talk about that Leicester team, the conversation is often about the attackers like Riyad Mahrez, Jamie Vardy, or even N'Golo Kante in midfield. But much of the team’s success was built on a strong defence, particularly your partnership with Wes Morgan. What was it like playing alongside him, and what made you such a strong pair at the back?
"Communication was a huge part of it. Both Wes and I liked to talk, keeping everyone around us organised and making sure we weren’t exposed in open play.
"But a big strength of the whole team was that everyone attacked and defended together. Even those attacking players you mentioned - when we didn’t have the ball, everyone worked incredibly hard to stay solid defensively. Claudio really pushed that as a key message. It’s easy to put all the responsibility on defenders, but if players in front of you aren’t working, it becomes almost impossible.
"Our balance as a team was crucial, and that’s why we had such a strong defensive record."
Do you see similarities with your time at Chelsea? You played with big leaders and characters there, under Mourinho, with John Terry, Ricardo Carvalho, Frank Lampard and others. Was there a similar sense of unity and work ethic?
"Definitely, especially in terms of work rate and defensive setup. Under Jose, everyone was defensively minded; even someone like (Didier) Drogba would press incredibly hard from the front.
"But if you compare the teams player by player, Chelsea had a squad of world-class superstars, some of the best in their positions. That level of quality certainly helps, and it wasn’t easy for me to break into the side, but it was also a big learning experience. The discipline, work ethic, and focus on every game really shaped me as a young player."
Speaking of learning, what was it like to play under Mourinho as a young player? And how did leaders like John Terry influence your development?
"A lot of it was very visual, you pick up on what the other players do. For example, John Terry would be out after training doing extra work; I always liked to do extras, but never quite to his level.
"Another thing is the consequences of mistakes. In the youth team, you’re allowed to make errors and learn, but in the first team, mistakes aren’t tolerated, and if you do slip up, you hear about it quickly.
"Jose and the senior players set really high standards; sometimes it’s not just what they say but what they do: the extra sessions, work in the gym or with the physio. These daily habits are what made that group so special as leaders. It was constant, 24/7."
Moving to your international career, how do you reflect on the 2006 World Cup in Germany? You finished third, beating Portugal after a semi-final loss to Italy. What was the experience like, particularly with all that added pressure of playing at home?
"I loved every minute of it. Playing in a World Cup on home soil is such a rare opportunity, and I was very fortunate to be part of it.
"The support was incredible. What really set the tone was our first game. There’d been doubts after some poor friendly results, but we scored early on, Philipp Lahm put one in from 25 yards after about five minutes, and that really lifted the nation’s spirits.
"Unfortunately, we ran into a brilliant Italian side in the semi-final, and while we could have won it, they edged it on the day. But I absolutely loved being a part of that tournament; it’s just a shame we couldn’t quite make the final."
Germany’s last big success came at the 2014 World Cup win, but things have been more complicated since. Looking ahead to the next World Cup, what do you make of Julian Nagelsmann’s team and their chances?
"It’s a bit mixed, really. There have been some good results recently and some disappointments, in terms of both scores and performances. The nation is a bit unsure about what to expect.
"In terms of the squad, I think the quality is there, as good as any team at the World Cup. But what we’ve missed recently is that traditional German team mentality, putting the collective ahead of individuals. Sometimes we’ve relied too much on individual quality and not enough on unity, which isn’t typical for Germany.
"I think it’ll be very difficult for Germany to go all the way and win it. The climate will also be challenging, with the heat not suiting the Germans, and there are some strong teams around, so in a one-off game, it could be tough."
Germany have always been known for having a clinical striker, someone like Miroslav Klose. How do you see the current situation with their forwards? Do you think there’s a problem there, or do you have faith in the current options?
"Individually, I don’t think the quality is lacking; it’s more about the style of play. When Germany have had success, the final pass was always aimed at the number nine, or crosses into the box. That’s not really the case anymore; the build-up is quite slow and patient, which makes it hard for a traditional number nine to second-guess what’s happening. Years ago, it was more direct, and you’d have someone like Klose or (Thomas) Muller running onto passes and scoring.
"The talent's still there - (Deniz) Undav, (Kai) Havertz now being fit again - but it’s about playing to their strengths, which isn’t always easy with the current style."
So would you say that the slow, patient build-up is a uniquely German problem, or is it more of a trend in football generally?
"It’s definitely a problem for Germany, but also an international issue. In the Premier League and other top leagues, the game can be a bit too slow for my liking lately.
"Since winning the 2014 World Cup, Germany as a nation hasn’t really adapted or evolved; we stuck with what worked then, instead of reassessing and changing. When you look at teams like Argentina, France, or Portugal, they’re more athletic, more direct, and have that extra power going forward, even if they’re not just lumping the ball long. There’s a lot more dynamism in those teams."
Which German players are you looking to as difference-makers in this upcoming tournament? Who really needs to step up?
"I think Florian Wirtz is really important. He had a decent Euros, though he’s had some trouble finding his best form consistently. (Jamal) Musiala is another key player, fitness permitting. On his day, he’s brilliant.
"For me, Wirtz and Musiala are the ones who have that extra bit of skill and can make something happen for Germany. I’ll be watching those two especially."