Failure is just not an option for Mario

Gotze’s only goal now is to make sure of progress

THE mos t elite c l ub in f ootball only admits new members every four years. Mario Gotze earned his place in a suitably sublime manner.

Controlling the ball on his chest before finishing in one fluid movement, Gotze’s extra-time strike that defeated Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final was unquestionably a career- defining moment. It was also worthy of its setting within the iconic surroundings of Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium.

Some 14 months on, however, Gotze admits that little slice of magic will fade in the memories of German fans if the nation fails to qualify for Euro 2016.

For the unassuming but supremely gifted 23-year-old, the emphasis is on the present rather than the past as Joachim Low’s men battle it out with Scotland and Poland at the top of Group D.

The German players are well aware the backlash that would follow should the section favourites fail to secure an automatic qualifying spot through a top two finish.

Low’s side take on group leaders Poland this evening before their visit to Hampden next Monday evening. Gotze knows both are must-win matches.

‘It was a tremendously important goal for me, the team and the nation,’ Gotze reflected on last summer. ‘ But i n football, it is f antastic and also bad t hat everything works so fast. You have almost no time to think and digest the good or bad. It was a golden year and who knows if I will ever be fortunate enough to live through another experience like that again?

‘Winning the World Cup was great, but events and football as a business keeps you on your toes.

‘You don’t hanker or look back. You move on.’

With Marco Reus ruled out after breaking a toe, Gotze is set to start on the left wing for Germany in Frankfurt this evening.

‘After the next two games against Poland and Scotland, we will know exactly what lies ahead for us,’ added the Bayern Munich player.

‘You only have to take a look at the group table to know we really need and want to win the two games.

‘We know full well it is not going to be easy. We were shown that in Warsaw i n the previous game against Poland and I also look f orward to the game against Scotland which will be tough.’

Low has made no secret of his team’s struggles in the wake of their exploits in South America.

The rhythm and fluency which was a feature of their performances in Brazil have been missing for the best part of the time since.

While bemoaning Germany’s failings, Low, who has been part of the DFB set-up for the past 12 years as manager and assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann, also concedes this has been the toughest qualifying section he has encountered.

‘Compared to other situations in qualifying campaigns, this is different,’ he said.

‘In other campaigns we have led the pack, we were in pole position, so this is different to the past.

‘ There are always pressure situations in campaigns, there is going to be a lot of spice in the last four games.

‘Like us, Poland and Scotland have l egitimate aspirations to participate in France. But we have to use this situation as motivation rather than think about pressure.

‘Our players have always shown what they can do when the going gets tough. The last year has been anything but easy, we have had problems.

‘We have been in a bit of a hole but need to go forward again now.’

Trailing Poland with four games to go is hardly ideal, but an assured Low is confident his players will rise to the occasion as Group D enters its decisive phase.

‘We are short of points as we have lost two to Ireland and three to Poland,’ he continued.

‘It has made this autumn hot for us and as a result we are under pressure to book our place in France.’