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crinkly_ears2012-06-15 10:04 am
jenny-jenkins.livejournal.com) wrote in crinkly_ears2012-06-15 10:04 am
Mesut Özil: Germany is now like Real Madrid
Two posts in one day - but there was no point delaying this translation of Mesut's latest interview after the Netherlands match.
"Deutschland ist jetzt wie Real Madrid"
WELT ONLINE
June 15, 2012
Translated by me,
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jenny_jenkinsMesut Ozil thinks this German team is the strongest in history. The 23 year-old speaks with Welt Online about Joachim Löw, Lukas Podolski and criticisms.
The sun sends a beam breaking through the clouds to gleam briefly against Mesut Ozil's diamond earring. The playmaker sits, relaxed, in the team hotel in Danzig, his black DFB shirt hanging over his trousers. Obviously a man who is satisfied with himself and the world before the final group-stage game on Sunday against Denmark.
Welt Online: Mr Özil, one hears that you are not entirely satisfied with your performance in the first two games.
Mesut Özil (grins): The things you hear! (Was Sie so alles hören!)
Welt Online: Is it true?
Özil: First off we can be absolutely proud of the fact that we've won the first two games. They were two games we couldn't be absolutely certain of winning.
Welt Online: We are talking about you though.
Özil: It's true that I can play better. That's because I know what I still have inside me. And I haven't shown it yet. Most of all: my finishing could be better. I was unlucky to hit the post against the Netherlands. Portugal was disappointing, and that's difficult for me. But I can and will improve myself.
Welt Online: Your critique flatters you – we're sitting here , after all, following two wins in the most difficult group at these Euros.
Özil: I'm proud of the team. Other teams like England, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands do not have 6 point after two games. We have won against two top nations. For all that we need one more point to be certain of being in the quarter-final. For that reason I won't sit here and celebrate as though we were in. But if summon up our potential then I won't be worrying. We can defeat the Danes.
Welt Online: Two years ago the team travelled without Captain Michael Ballack to the World cup, at that time expectations were low. Now you and your colleagues are top-favourites. Do you feel the weight of expectation?
Özil: It's a different starting point from South Africa. One can see now that the opponents know our strengths, that they have prepared themselves against them - and that they rate us with two or three others as favourites. But that's all right. To get to this point was our aim, our goal. Every opponent wants to beat us. It's like with Real Madrid. Every smaller team wants to beat us and does everything they can to do it. Germany is now like Real Madrid. I like that.
Welt Online: What else is different from 2010?
Özil: We've continued to develop together as a team. We have reached another playing level. We owe that to Joachim Loew, who has shaped our team.
Welt Online: Earlier there was a time where Germany couldn't beat big teams. Does it now have to be: Germany can't lose against the big teams?
Özil: Of course we are happy when we beat teams like Portugal and Holland and that they scarcely created a chance against us. But we musn't become complacent. You don't win games through talking. We have however shown, convincingly, what we are capable of.
Welt Online: Mehmet Scholl criticized Mario Gomez very harshly after the 1:0 against Portugal.
Özil: I think that with his two games against the Netherlands that Mario has given his answer. He can cope with it professionally.
Welt Online: Were you aware of this discussion?
Özil: Natürlich. We read German newspapers here. Mario dealt with it well. (Mario hat das super gemacht.)
Welt Online: What do you think of former players who are now television experts? Fouling the nest? (Nestbeschmutzer?)
Özil: No. Everyone is allowed their own opinion. We can't allow ourselves to be distracted by it.
Welt Online: You became champion with Real Madrid, but there was relatively little coverage on it here. Do you think your performances don't get enough recognition.
Özil: (thinks about it at length) It's true that little is written about it. Not only about me, but also about Sami Khedira. We played a super season. I think it is sad that in Germany not as much notice is taken of it, unless the Spanish press write something negative about us. Sami and I think it's a shame, when they are not proud of us. To win the championship with a 9 point lead over FC Barcelona is a big deal.
Welt Online: The Spanish League can only be watched on the Internet? Is that the reason?
Özil: It could be. Perhaps I have to sell myself more aggressively.
Welt Online: Is this the strongest German team in history?
Özil: I think so yes. We have become more consistent, we have more self-belief. We have players like Mario Goetze, Andre Schuerrle and Marco Reus in the background. We are a very young team, that has nevertheless reached a high level and for whom big things are possible.
Welt Online: Miroslav Klose has lost his starting place. What's your impression of him?
Özil: His behaviour is exemplary. He doesn't make a fuss, trains as hard as ever. He is a huge role-model. We have in Mario and Miro two world-class strikers and we are happy about that. They are both really important to us.
Welt Online: Is this harmony the key to success?
Özil: It is certainly a very important element, perhaps the most important. If we couldn't understand each other then we couldn't play so effectively. we are not just 11, but 23 friends. That includes the coaches and the staff.
Welt Online: How does the criticism of Toni Kroos in Bild fit into this? After the game against the Netherlands he said: "Everything is not okay. After playing the season that I just did it's logical that I would want to play." ("Befriedigend ist das alles nicht. Gerade nach der Saison, die ich gespielt habe, ist es doch logisch, dass ich spielen will.")
Özil: I find it normal that everyone would want to play and I find it normal that everyone would want to prove themselves, but the coach decides who plays.
Welt Online: Can you criticize the coach?
Özil: No. But Toni Kroos didn't do that.
Welt Online: On Sunday Lukas Podolski will play his 100th national game.
Özil: Puuuh, that's insane. Hat's off to him!
Welt Online: You'll be playing your 35th. Is reaching 100 the goal?
Özil: No. I don't think in numbers and records. 100 caps is a wonderful thing, but it isn't my ambition to reach it. I want to play successful football. How many games that will take is unimportant to me.
Many thanks to reader José for sending the link!
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You are very welcome. And yes - Mesut could be a diplomat. He has a natural intelligence and tact that endears him to people.
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Here is a link to a video about Mesut from Canada, maybe you can post it on your site:
http://www.tsn.ca/window/Euro2012/index.html#clipid_699140
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It'll be up tomorrow, hopefully - along with TSN's video if it can be got up on Youtube :)
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http://tv.dfb.de/index.php?view=4697
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is he drunk?no subject
I bet his Spanish is similar.
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His teacher have been interviewed, professors have written about him, talented bloggers have commented on his playing style etc...
And in this community NOTHING is ever late - comments on posts (many have no comments because the community was shut down without warning when the mods lost interest and the original posts were lost - but never hesitate to point something out you may like) or getting to love our crinkly-eared, modern-day hero!
<3
And if you've any questions about him, never hesitate to ask!
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