Crinkly Ears

WELT ONLINE
June 15, 2012
Translated by me, jenny_jenkins

Mesut 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!)

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As you all know, I have come to hugely prefer larger posts. Alas - it backfired this week. As usual, the sheer amount of adorable stuff to come out of the DFB website and publicity machine is so immense that this week's action is going to be split into two posts.


We have andriy_7 to blame for this development, since he certainly doesn't miss a thing! Not a picture, not a gif-worthy moment, not a single video he could upload for us! He even took requests and is to be commended for his patience in dealing with me.

This first post is all the pre-game action, from the arrival in Hamburg to the trip to Ukraine.


( Mesut's week with the national team... )


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The goals really were beautiful. The first showcased his perfect first touch. The photographers caught a beautiful picture of the ball heading toward the back of the net before Klose (villainous goal-thief that he is!) stuck his toe out - or whatever other piece of his villainous anatomy got in the way!





And as it happens, in his interview of yesterday afternoon with ZDF (portions of which were posted above) Mesut was asked what he was doing to "improve himself" as he so often puts it. His reponse:

"I work on my weakness: which is my body. I have to become more robust. Before or after practice I spend between 30 minutes to an hour in the weight room. I don't want to put on weight, but I want my muscles to be stronger. Then finally I practice in front of the goal, to gain self-confidence. If I can score goals in practice then it works out better in the game."

He was asked "Does that mean you grab yourself a goalkeeper and practice 1:1 situations?"

The answer: "Yes, and also penalties and free kicks."

"Your coach Jose Mourinho - does he expect this extra work, or do you expect it from yourself?"

"Myself. Mourinho doesn't require it."

And as it happens the second goal more than showcased the effort Mesut has been putting into being as lethal as possible in front of goal. It didn't matter that the keeper got a hand to the ball, or that Mesut was forced to control the ball while skipping over and around him -








- that ball was going into the back of the bloody net!

The third goal was absurdly brilliant too. Mesut ran up the length of the pitch to score it. The set up from Thomas Mueller off his head from a single pass up the pitch from the back was absurdly brilliant too (no other words for it) - show-casing Mannschaft bloody-mindedness at its best!





Oddly enough though, the goals weren't even the half of it. To begin with, Mesut could have had four goals, easily. Late in the second half he was in acres of space when Schuerrle rather foolishly went for goal himself - and with his peculiar cold-bloodedness in front of goal this afternoon, we'd scarcely have bet against him scoring.



Being congratulated by Jerome Boateng after the third goal. Don't we all wish we could ruffle Mesut's hair like that...


Mesut also hit the post before being called offside, was full of energy, and tracked back the full length of the pitch late into injury time to try to collect the ball for a final counter-attack with less than thirty seconds to go and four goals up.

I am sure we agree that that sort of attitude typifies Mannschaft bloody-mindedness at its best!



Or just give it a tug like Holger Badstuber did?



Press Reviews!


Kisses for the Schalkers!


With a performance that brilliant (and his first hat-trick (tm)!) the German newspapers were beside themselves with joy.

Quite naturally (and predictably!) a number of them couldn't resist the obvious pun -

The headline in Bild, for example: EM-FAVORIT! Ein Özil besser als alle Ösis!

And another: Deutschland 6:2 Österreich – Özil schlägt die Ösis!

These are quite untranslatable unfortunately, but we can just about get the gist across! The first effectively says that "One Ozil is better than all the Austrians" and the second: "Ozil beats the Austrians!" Since he scored a hat-trick (tm) and the Austrians only managed two goals between them, the headline may just have a point!





Der Spiegel

Headline: Gala gegen Österreich Özil führt Deutschland zur EM 2012

Mesut Özil (Real Madrid, zentrales Mittelfeld): Gegen Brasilien hatte er pausiert und die Schlagzeilen dem Dortmunder Mario Götze überlassen. Gegen Österreich war er zurück - und wie. Der Mittelfeldspieler von Real Madrid besticht durch seine Laufwege, durch seine Passgenauigkeit und nicht zuletzt durch seine Torgefahr. Den ersten Treffer bereitete er vor, den zweiten und vierten machte er selbst. Traumhaft schön. Die Rückkehr in seine Heimatstadt Gelsenkirchen war eine triumphale.

"Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid, Central Midfield): Against Brazil he had a break and allowed Mario Goetze to take the headlines. Against Austria he was back - and how. The Madrid midfielder impressed through his movement, his passing and, not least, his danger in front of goal. He provided the first goal and the second and fourth he made himself. Unbelievably beautiful. The return to his hometown of Gelsenkirchen was a triumph."

The magazine went on to note, rather cheekily, when writing up Miroslav "goal-thief" Klose's performance -

Es war das 62. seiner Länderspielkarriere, auch wenn er bestenfalls mit dem kleinen Zeh am Ball war.

"It was the 62nd goal of his National career, even if he managed, at best, to get a toe to it."





Focus Online ignored the official stats and simply awarded the hat-trick to Mesut.

Geführt von einem fantastisch auftrumpfenden Dreifach-Torschützen Mesut Özil hat sich die deutsche Fußball-Nationalmannschaft mit einem 6:2 (3:1) gegen Österreich zum elften Mal hintereinander die Teilnahme an einer Europameisterschaft gesichert.

Led by a fantastic triple from Mesut Ozil, the German National Team secured its eleventh appearance in the European Championship against Austria 6:2 (3:1).



He doesn't walk, he floats on air!


Meanwhile, over at the Sueddeutsche Zeitung -

Özil: Weltklasse! In Laufdistanz zu seinem Elternhaus spielte der Real-Star brillant auf. Erster Doppelpack im Nationaltrikot.
Klose: ... Beim ersten Tor gerade noch so dran...

Ozil: World class! Within walking distance of his parent's house, the Real star played brilliantly. First brace in a National team jersey.
Klose: ...Just there for the first goal...



Guilt! That's guilt in his eyes!


The paper went on to damn with faint praise:

Kroos: In Özils Schatten fiel es schwer zu glänzen. Im Mittelfeld sehr fleißig, erkämpfte viele Bälle. Gut gearbeitet.
Kroos: It was hard to shine in Ozil's shadow. Very sound in the midfield, fought for many balls. Well done.



"I've just scored a hat-trick (tm)!" "Yes, Mesut - we all saw it!"


Even the German version of Goal.com, which is unaccountably hostile toward Mesut under usual circumstances, was impressed. They labelled it the "Ozil Gala" and even published a flattering photo of the lad blowing kisses to the crowd!

Over at the typically admiring English version of the site, the following was noted (in an article entitled "Ozil Heroics Send Germany Through").

"Man of the match. The opener was good enough to be awarded to him, and his goal to make it 2-0 was pure class. Added a second goal early in the second half to round off a majestic performance."

We Ozileris will note however that they (and many of the other newspapers) failed to trust the evidence of their own eyes and award him his hat-trick (tm)!


On the Subject of Germany



Take that bitches!


Yes, that's right. 8 wins in 8 matches means Germany is the first nation to qualify for Poland/Ukraine 2012 - and with by far the most impressive goal difference!



Well done Mesut, well done lads!



A little superstition ;)

Of course, it was all inevitable! Mesut's horoscope in The Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia's right-wing rag of a newspaper) this morning read as follows -

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You feel pleased and contented with yourself today. Basically, things are unfolding as they should - at least, it feels that way. You're confident about your future and grateful for the assistance you are receiving from others; be it financial, practical or emotional support. Everybody's got your back.



Poldi not only has Mesut's back, he wants his left ear too!


It gets better

Not content with scoring hat-tricks (tm), looking adorable in interviews, and bossing around the midfield like a total BAMF to ensure his team's qualification for next summer's tournament, Bug-eyed Gorgeousness took his shirt off!

This section is for you lovinthelads!


Bonus Schweini! Unffff, THUMP!




BellyBonus!Pics Galore resulted!

That beyond adorable tummy of his was looking quite delectably nuzzlable!




Even the Mannschaft Penguin coped a feel!


Lucky bird!


And Poldi couldn't wipe the grin off his face!



And frankly, the sight of Mesut sharing a joke with Toni Kroos of Bayern Munich with his shirt off - well, it's enough to make any girl feel faint!






And really, Mesut's back doesn't get enough attention does it?





A Final Note - In a Haze of Smoke ;)

Mesut has assured his darling fan-base this week that he is not a smoker. Of course, a significant section of his fanbase didn't give a hoot - some of them even liked him better for it (count Jenny among them - the occasional cigarette is a wonderful thing!) but the puritanical and bored-out-of-its-mind-in-the-doldrums-of-summer sports press worked themselves into a tizzy when he was spotted with a single fag on vacation.

Never fear! Mesut has informed Bild this week that he is not a smoker and simply lit one up after losing a bet.

He also refused to confirm, rather cryptically, whether or not he was single. (Cue shrieks of despair across the blogosphere)!



Redness around the eyes, a glowing smile, a heroic profile - all in HD - this photo has it all!


Next match on Tuesday is a friendly against Poland. Mesut is likely to play because Joachim Loew will want to try out a Mario Goetze, Mesut Ozil midfield.

Match Report and all translations by jenny_jenkins.

Undying thanks (for truly unspeakable photographic research!) to andriy_7.

Post dedicated to sandrin2008 with love and affection!

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(Nearly 80 pictures - so NOT dial-up friendly)

Right around this time last year, as the World Cup in South Africa was in full swing,  Mannschaft observers noticed something odd. Everywhere Lukas Poldolski went, a certain someone was bound to follow!

Petting baby lions before dispatching "the three lions" 4-1 at Bloemfontain.

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