The World Champions have been training in Frankfurt since Monday in preparation for two important games. Germany face group leaders Poland in a EURO qualifier in Frankfurt on Friday (20:45 CEST) before facing Scotland in Glasgow on Monday (20:45 CEST). Mesut Özil is looking forward to the big games, to a reunion and to the prospect of going top of the table. The 26-year-old World Cup winner has spoken in an interview with DFB.de.
DFB.de: The first question is obvious – you joined up with the team carrying an injury. How does your knee feel?
Mesut Özil: I’ve been with the side for a few says now and I’ve been well cared for by the team’s medical department. I trained with the team for the first time on Wednesday and it was like a trail run for me. We wanted to know how the knee would react and whether I had any pain. It was a positive test – my knee felt good and I felt good. I hope that nothing changes there and I can give 100 percent for the team in the games against Poland and Scotland.
DFB.de: How does a trial run like that work? Are you watching out with every step and seeing how your knee feels?
Özil: You can actually already tell in the warm-up if the pain will get worse. And that wasn’t the case so I could then train normally. It can be found out quite badly how the knee reacts when you don’t put it under strain.
DFB.de: The situation in the group is well known with Poland leading it. This is a big, important game coming up. How big is the anticipation ahead of the game on Friday?
Özil: Without a doubt these are decisive games and we know what the deal is. Poland showed in Warsaw that they are capable of beating the World Champions. We have been warned. Now we have the chance to correct the table, and to do that we must win both games. It’s clear that we are highly motivated and going into the games with great anticipation.
DFB.de: You did not feature in the first game against Poland because of injury. How hard was that for you?
The World Champions have been training in Frankfurt since Monday in preparation for two important games. Germany face group leaders Poland in a EURO qualifier in Frankfurt on Friday (20:45 CEST) before facing Scotland in Glasgow on Monday (20:45 CEST). Mesut Özil is looking forward to the big games, to a reunion and to the prospect of going top of the table. The 26-year-old World Cup winner has spoken in an interview with DFB.de.
DFB.de: The first question is obvious – you joined up with the team carrying an injury. How does your knee feel?
Mesut Özil: I’ve been with the side for a few says now and I’ve been well cared for by the team’s medical department. I trained with the team for the first time on Wednesday and it was like a trail run for me. We wanted to know how the knee would react and whether I had any pain. It was a positive test – my knee felt good and I felt good. I hope that nothing changes there and I can give 100 percent for the team in the games against Poland and Scotland.
DFB.de: How does a trial run like that work? Are you watching out with every step and seeing how your knee feels?
Özil: You can actually already tell in the warm-up if the pain will get worse. And that wasn’t the case so I could then train normally. It can be found out quite badly how the knee reacts when you don’t put it under strain.
DFB.de: The situation in the group is well known with Poland leading it. This is a big, important game coming up. How big is the anticipation ahead of the game on Friday?
Özil: Without a doubt these are decisive games and we know what the deal is. Poland showed in Warsaw that they are capable of beating the World Champions. We have been warned. Now we have the chance to correct the table, and to do that we must win both games. It’s clear that we are highly motivated and going into the games with great anticipation.
DFB.de: You did not feature in the first game against Poland because of injury. How hard was that for you?
Özil: When I can’t play football then I can’t do what I love. I always want to help my teammates and my teams. Watching games is always difficult for me. But that’s done – I’m sure that I can help the team on Friday and Monday.
DFB.de: A lot I soften spoken about Poland’s attack, about Lewandowski but also about how they’ve had nine different goal scorers.
Özil: So?
DFB.de: The defence is the basis for victory. Poland have conceded only three goals in this competition. Does that worry you?
Özil: No. Poland will be very defensive against us. They will look to win the ball and counter. But we’re prepared and will find a solution. I don’t care too much for talking about opponents before a game. We are Germany, we are the World Champions, we have amazing players in our team, including in attack. We can always be dangerous. When we get a chance, we are always in place to take them.
DFB.de: You known Poland’s goalkeeper well. Wojciech Szczesny used to play with you at Arsenal. Does that provide you with extra incentive to score against him?
Özil: No, that’s not a special motivation. But I’m looking forward to seeing him again because he now plays for Roma. He’s a good guy and a good keeper. But for me it’s not important who scores the goals. The decisive thing is that we beat Poland.
DFB.de: Is there a plausible scenario in which the World Champions fail to qualify for the EUROs?
Özil: No.
