Coach Loew heaps praise on skipper Draxler
coach Juan Carlos Osorio warned against underestimating a youthful Germany in Thursday’s Confederations Cup semifinal because of the wealth of experience many of them have already gained.
Of the eight teams at the tournament the Germans brought the youngest squad to Russia’s Confed Cup with an average age of just over 24.
Despite leaving their 2014 World Cup-winning stars at home, the Germans earned their semifinal place by topping their group after beating Australia and Cameroon and fighting back to draw 1-1 with South American champions Chile.
Osorio pointed out that the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Julian Draxler, 23, Liverpool’s Emre Can, 23, and Arsenal’s Shkodran Mustafi, 25, have already played in both the Bundesliga and Europe’s top leagues.
“You can be young and have a lot of experience,” said Osorio.
“A 30-year-old that starts studying cardiology will know a lot less than a 21-year-old graduate, who already works in an emergency room in a big city and has already performed a lot of surgeries. Guys like Draxler and Joshua Kimmich, have all played Champions League and have lots ofBundesligaexperience,despite their ages.”
Osorio has chopped and changed the Mexico team for all three Confed Cup games so far.
Ex-Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez says whoever plays at Sochi’s Fisht Stadium will be capable of beating the world champions to reach Sunday’s final. “I have been playing for two years in the Bundesliga, we need to see where their weaknesses are and where we can hurt them,” said Bayer Leverkusen striker Hernandez.
“But we’re focused on what we need to do, we don’t know who is going to play, it’s one of our qualities that anyone can come in and do the job.
“They are the world champions and we’re very happy to be in this match.”
The youngest captain to lead Germany into a tournament in 105 years, Julian Draxler has effortlessly taken on the task of mentoring an inexperienced squad.
All while displaying the versatility linking up attacks that has helped to steer Germany into the Confederations Cup semifinals.
If Germany coach Joachim Loew learns one thing from the World Cup dress rehearsal, it’s that the 23-year-old Draxler is a strong contender to one day assume the armband from injured goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
“The way he is coordinating the young team is very good,” Loew said Wednesday. “He is turning into a personality who is in a position to assume responsibilities. He’s taking care of younger players and trying to integrate them into the team.
“He is always keeping his mind on what matters on the pitch but also off the pitch he is very sociable with other players as well.”
Draxler is far from the youngest player in the squad, but he’s the most experienced on the international stage. The semifinal against Mexico on Thursday will be Draxler’s 34th appearance for Germany. He is also one of only three members of the World Cup winning squad from 2014 who were included in the experimental group in Russia.
Shkodran Mustafi is another, and the defender is delighted to see Draxler’s progress from being a bit-part squad member in Brazil to an integral member of the team in Russia three years on.
“He has got a really bright future in front of him,” Mustafi said on the sidelines before training in the southern Russian coastal resort of Sochi. “Talent sometimes is not enough but I think he has the character and the talent, the head, to be the next superstar for sure.”
Don’t take Germany’s word for it. Mexico coach Juan Carlos Osorio spoke Wednesday of his admiration for Draxler’s role as Germany’s “connector” and the way he finds space in midfield to be the link-man to the forwards.
What Draxler offers Loew is variety. The Paris Saint-Germain player is comfortable on both feet and he is given the freedom to roam across the pitch. Shakira (in pic) and her husband, Messi's teammate Gerard Pique are expected among the 260 guests. They will join old friends of the couple and Messi’s Barcelona strike partners Luis Suarez and Neymar. Brunette bride Roccuzzo, 29, will wear a dress by Spanish designer Rosa Clara, which has been flown over from Barcelona. The designer has dressed stars such as actresses Eva Longoria and Sofia Vergara as well as Spain’s Queen Letizia. Messi has reportedly asked chefs to cook local delicacies such as ‘locro’ stew and ‘empanada’ pasties for the feast. The star dish is a typical Argentine beef roast including chitterlings, gizzards and kidneys. Uruguayan pop bands Rombai and Marama plus singer Karina, wife of Argentina footballer Sergio Aguero, will perform at the dance. It is not known whether the guests will also get a song from Colombian pop star Shakira.