OSORIO IN A MEXICAN RAVE
Ozil and Gundogan backed after Turkey storm
GERMANY’S Mesut Ozil and Ilkay Gundogan have been defended after causing a storm by meeting Turkey’s president ahead of the World Cup.
Ozil and Gundogan, both of Turkish decent, posed with Recep Tayyip Erdogan on last month’s visit to Britain.
Gundogan gave Erdogan a Manchester City shirt with the message “to my revered president”, ensuring he was booed by Germany fans in last week’s warm-up win over Saudi Arabia.
Politicians from the far-right AFD party questioned the pair’s commitment to Germany, but ahead of the holders’ opening game against Mexico today, Julian Draxler leapt to their defence. “Reports that Mesut was not up to his best or that Ilkay was a bit subdued, that’s not true,” said team-mate Draxler.
“Mesut is probably our most creative player on the pitch so I’m sure he will be there when we need him.”
Hunger
Germany go into today’s Group F opener against Mexico as one of the tournament favourites – but boss Joachim Loew admits it will be a tall order to retain the trophy on July 15.
Not since Brazil – who won in 1958 and 1962 – has a country retained the World Cup and Loew acknowledged the strength of the opposition in Russia will make it tough to repeat MEXICO coach Juan Carlos Osorio believes his team will relish the challenge of taking on the world champions.
The Mexicans face Germany this afternoon ready to rise to the test of facing Joachim Loew’s stars.
Osorio said: “It’s a great opportunity for Mexican soccer to compete against the current world champions.
“We think we can compete 2014. He said: “It’s the most difficult feat and history has demonstrated that.
“Nobody has been able to defend the title, because other teams continuously develop and change.
“After each World Cup there is a change in the team. Some players finish their careers, you need to integrate new players, so it’s the most difficult feat.
“But as far as the ambition or the hunger is concerned, that’s clearly there and it’s palpable.”
Loew has a core of players in Russia who led Germany to World Cup glory last time around, including keeper Manuel Neuer, defender Mats Hummels, midfielder Toni Kroos and with them and I believe 100 per cent in our players.
“With our midfielders, we can compete for ball possession and have the possibility to match up against Germany.
“We are going to give everything we have and we have versatile players.
“Today, there are players who play in other positions and they are doing well, forward Thomas Muller. But Loew has also freshened up the squad with young talent including forward Timo Werner, but there was no place in the squad for Leroy Sane.
Although Germany have lost Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose, Loew believes the squad is every bit as strong.
Loew said: “Every team continues to progress and develop their strengths. Brazil, four years on, are much stronger than they were in 2014 and so are we.
“France have taken many steps forward since 2014, Spain have also become a lot more confident.
“Elite football and elite teams continue to develop.” which gives us the great possibility of having a plan B and even a plan C.”
The Germans are certainly expecting a tough battle, with Julian Draxler wary of the threat from the Latin Americans.
The Paris Saint-germain playmaker captained Germany to victory at last summer’s Confederations Cup, with a 4-1 semi-final win over Mexico. And Draxler said: “They are a strong and dangerous team in the group, who we should not underestimate – but if we put our qualities into play, I’m sure we’ll win the game.
“The Confed Cup is something different to a World Cup. You should not overestimate the 4-1 in the semi-finals. It will be a new game and a new tournament.”