Our boy speaks with Die Welt am Sonntag

[hope-calaris.livejournal.com]

Mesut Özil - "We certainly weren't afraid"
Welt Online
July 1st, 8:56
by Lars Wallrodt
translated by hope_calaris


It was his picture of all things that symbolically stood for the misery of the german national team. Usually, Mesut Özil, 23, smiles. Not as wide as Lukas Podolski, but a shy, humble smile.

The picture, however, that many newspapers printed after the defeat by Italy shows Özil endlessly disappointed, his hand weakly raised in a last greeting at the departure.

He should have been the face of the new, fresh team which tops its phenomenal development with the title at the EURO 2012. "I want this cup," the playmaker had always said.

Welt am Sonntag: How big is your disappointment after two days?

Mesut Özil: As big as directly after the final whistle. We wanted to do a lot. And we had prepared the best way possible. It will take a long time till I'll be over this disappointment.

Welt am Sonntag: How did you see the course of the game? Afterwards, people acted as if the Italians were the dominant team. Did you share the feeling on the field?

Özil: Football isn't figure skating. There's always an opponent who directly tries to destroy the game. We fought, but we gave a lot of chances away at the beginning. We were out of luck as well. And then the game totally developed in favor of the Italians. First chance, first goal. This can't be put down to their dominance, though, but to small mistakes. We had chances as well. That it looks weird at the end, when we run against them, and the opponent has the opportunity to counter attack, that's something different.

Welt am Sonntag: What are the reasons for the defeat?

Özil: Like I already said: especially the course of the game spoke for the Italians. Small things decide on this level. And on this day the Italians didn't make any mistakes. We just have to recognize that on that day the opponent was better, and then we have to congratulate. That's part of the game as well. We can't expect to win every game. However, this doesn't mean that everything we did the last two years during the qualification and the EURO is bad.

Welt am Sonntag: The "Bild" newspaper writes about wussies against men. Was the german team too scared?

Özil: No, not at all. We fought till the end, we attacked during the second half, opened our defense on the risk of defeat. That's not being scared. That the Italians are more experienced and therefore play more sawy -- that's something different.

Welt am Sonntag: Joachim Löw adapted his tactic to fit the opponent once more. Shouldn't a strong team like the german one not just play its game?

Özil: If it only were so simple. No team in the world can play on this level as if the opponent doesn't exist. You have to know how the other team plays and act accordingly in the semifinal of the EURO. Italy atuned their game to ours as well.

Welt am Sonntag: Another point of criticims is that the team lacks leading players. There's nobody who steps in and carries the team along in a defeat. Do you agree with that? Are there no chefs in the team?

Özil: That's way too simplistic. Who's a leading player anyway? Lampard? Van Bommel? Ribery? Where were they at the semifinals? There are now two teams in the finals who showed excellent team effort. We mustn't always look only at the result. We did win 15 games with the same team.

Welt am Sonntag: What's the reason Germany was among the four best teams four times in a row, but never got the title?

Özil: Everything has to fit perfectly and you need luck to win the title. I'm against bad mouthing everything now: to be in the semifinal four times is an amazing feat. Of course we want to win titles, and we do everything for it. It's not that easy, though.

Welt am Sonntag: After the game, Joachim Löw was asked if he's stepping down. He denied, of course. How do you see that discussion?

Özil: Such a discussion because of a narrow result? We could have scored three times in the beginning. And now another coach is supposed to change that? Since I've been part of the team we get a lot of praise -- especially abroad. For many years. And now all of that is supposed to be wrong?

Welt am Sonntag: The NT was completely shielded in its polish quarters. Is that really necessary?

Özil: That's not crucial. That's got nothing to do with if Pirlo saves on the line or not. When we go into the city and drink coffee, they're saying: They're drinking coffee -- but lose. We mustn't only look at the result. We had perfect conditions in Gdanks, were focused 100%. During all five games. But we didn't show our best performance during the 90 minutes against Italy -- and that's also due to the Italians.

Welt am Sonntag: Felix Magath said: "Who saw how fervent the Italians sang their anthem, those could fanthom the will." He says he missed that audible commitment, the devotion to give everything in the german team. Can you share that criticism?

Özil: With all due respect, but we gave everything. In all the matches.

Welt am Sonntag: You've always said the win of the title is the goal. Was that phrased too offensive?

Özil: Another misunderstanding: We can't go to the EURO and say the semifinal is the goal. The title has to be our aspiration. However, everything can't fall apart if we don't reach that goal. Sports is like that -- you can't win everything.

Welt am Sonntag: And your own performance?

Özil: No player can play perfect during all the games. I leave the assessment of my performance to others. I got more approval from abroad and from the coaches than from other sources. But to me it's important what the coaches say.

Welt am Sonntag: In regards to the WM 2014: What does the team have to do to win the title?

Özil: The team did everything this time as well: We need that little bit of luck there and a bit more experience. But we're young.

Welt am Sonntag: What are you going to do now? Vacation?

Özil: Yes. But vacation is something private, and I don't want to speak about it. I have a hard season behind me -- I'm looking forward to relax.

Welt am Sonntag: For which team are you crossing your fingers in the final? The Spains because you play in the Primera Division? Or the Italians, so Germany at least got kicked out of the tournament by the European champion?

Özil: Since I've been living in Spain for two years, and at lot of my teammates play for Spain, I'll cross my fingers for them.