Höwedes: "I don't need to shine"

Sitting on the terrace of the team hotel in Évian, looking out across Lake Geneva, Benedikt Höwedes talks about his role in the Die Mannschaft squad and the upcoming EURO 2016 quarterfinal against Italy on Saturday (21:00 CEST) in Bordeaux.

DFB.de: Mr Höwedes, you’ve had a white bandage around your knee over the past few days. Do we need to be worried?

Benedikt Höwedes: No, not at all! It was just a light bruise, but nothing serious. It’s all healed now anyway.

DFB.de: You were injured for a long time in spring 2016 and finally made your comeback in April. Were you always confident that you would make the European Championship squad?

Höwedes: I was always fairly certain, yes. I had a clear plan from the doctor and set myself a clear deadline. My return was delayed by a week, but I never saw any acute danger to my place in the squad. I played a couple of Bundesliga matches, so I had a nice cushion. It would have been a bigger problem if I had come into the squad without any match practice.

DFB.de: Do you remember the last defeat you experienced with the national team?

Höwedes: Of course, we lost to Slovakia in a friendly in the build-up to the tournament.

DFB.de: And the last defeat in a competitive match? Either at a tournament or during qualification for a tournament.

Höwedes: No, I don’t.

DFB.de: For a good reason! The national team have never lost a competitive match with Benedikt Höwedes on the pitch. Are you aware of your record?

Höwedes: I recently saw something on the Schalke website. Before the Northern Ireland match it was 17 games, 15 wins and two draws. Since then we have had two more wins. It’s unusual – a good record I would say!

DFB.de: There’s another record that you have contributed to recently. Die Mannschaft have not conceded in five consecutive matches now. Do you know what the record is?

Höwedes: No idea.

DFB.de: Six matches. The Germany national team last achieved this in 1966 – 50 years ago.

Höwedes: I never knew that. It’s not a record that we strive for, but obviously we’d be happy to achieve it. The most decisive thing is that we win the game. Which is more possible if you keep a clean sheet. If you do that, the only way you can lose is if the match goes to penalties. A compact defence is the key to all success – and we’re all doing a good job at that. Everyone, not just the defenders. I think it’s important that we see this as a collective achievement. It’s not just the goalkeeper and defenders, ever player has his own defensive duties, just as every player has attacking duties.

DFB.de: At the World Cup you played every game at left back, at the EUROs you have placed twice at right back and come on twice at centre back – your main position. Do you have a preference between right or left when you play as a full back?

Höwedes: If I play there, I prefer it to be on the right. Fundamentally, you always feel more comfortable playing on the side of your stronger foot. It makes it easier to get involved with attacks and deliver crosses. It’s my job to help the team however I can and I do that in whatever position I am played in.

DFB.de: After the Northern Ireland match, you were very outspoken in your praise of Joshua Kimmich, who replaced you in the starting XI.

Höwedes: I was asked, so I gave my opinion.

DFB.de: You were praised you for your attitude. Does that surprise you at all?

Höwedes: I spoke about this with a few people. Honestly, I feel a little shocked. I didn’t say anything in particular. Football is a team sport – that’s something a lot of people clearly don’t understand. When you play football, you’re not playing for yourself. Die Mannschaft consists of 23 players, eleven on the pitch and twelve who can come on at any time. This attitude is a part of that.

DFB.de: You have been described as the personification of team spirit – Per Mertesacker’s successor. What do you say to that?

Höwedes: I read that too! (laughing) I would call myself a real team player too, but personification is a bit over the top. I am the sort of person who will give everything for the team, who dedicates themselves to the team, who plays in positions that may not be their favourite. I don’t need to shine. If you want to be successful, and this is something we all realised at the World Cup in Brazil, you absolutely need to have team spirit. I try to set an example for this, with the national team and with my club.

DFB.de: On Saturday you have the quarterfinal against Italy. Germany beat them 4-1 the last time the two teams meet in Munich. You were injured, but did you watch the match?

Höwedes:Of course. We were in very good condition back then and the Italian’s were without a few important players. Such a positive result certainly doesn’t help, but I wouldn’t place too much importance in it. Saturday’s match will be completely different.

DFB.de: Before the tournament started, we asked you who you thought the favourites were. You didn’t mention Italy. Are you surprised by how well they have played so far?

Höwedes:I only mentioned one or two teams and Italy were not one of those. Tournaments always through up one or two surprises, look at Iceland for example. They are having a phenomenal European Championship, no one would have predicted that. Italy are similarly surprising, just look at how they attacked against Spain. The never stopped running and constantly put their opposition under pressure.

DFB.de: Germany versus Italy has a special history. The defeat in the 2012 semi-final still frustrates the fans. Any the rest of the team? How much are you hoping for revenge?

Höwedes:Not at all. That’s in the past, we can’t change that.

DFB.de: But it’s about time Germany finally beat Italy in a tournament?

Höwedes:That’s true. Our task is quite clear: We have a very important game that we need to win, against a very good opponent. We’re in a good position.